Pulev Squares Off With Anthony Joshua Ahead Of Showdown On Saturday

Joshua vs Pulev

Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua warned his opponent Kubrat Pulev, he faces "the real one" in Saturday's world heavyweight title bout in London as the pair almost came to blows at the weigh-in.

Mr. Joshua the former Olympic champion will be defending his IBF, WBA and WBO belts at Wembley Arena against his Bulgarian veteran counterpart before the allowed 1,000 fans due to coronavirus regulations.

The two men have been scheduled to fight twice in the past, but was both postponed in 2017 when Pulev was injured and in 2019 when the Covid-19 just started and everything was on lockdown and halted the planned paid fight that was to be held in June, 2019.

Although, the thirty nine (39) years old, who is nicknamed "The Cobra", boasts of his impressive 28-1 boxing record, his only defeat was in the hands of Wladimir Klitschko for the world title fight in 2014.

"Many years I've been in boxing and seen a lot fighters talk a lot of rubbish, then they get smacked up," said by Joshua to Sky Sports.

"I know what he's like, I have studied him. He thinks he's a warrior. I said 'don't let the guys you've fought gas you up, you're in with a real one now'.

"When people come in the ring with me, they are confident and then after a few rounds their soul gets destroyed. When I see that I can take them out."

Pulev tipped the scales at 239 pounds (108 kilograms), six pounds lighter than before his last bout with Rydell Brooker in November 2019.

Anthony Joshua was then roundly booed by Pulev's entourage before he weighed in at 240 pounds, three pounds more than when he gained revenge on Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019 to reclaim his titles.

A bump of their fists appeared to be the end of a fiery weigh-in, only for Pulev to state: "Tomorrow I show you buddy. I like you, respect you but tomorrow I show you because I am better than you."

Much of the focus ahead of Saturday has been on a potential "Battle of Britain" between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in 2021.

An agreement in principle for Joshua and WBC champion Fury to finally go ahead-to-head has been in place since earlier this year.