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Lindsey Tucker, the Championship Chairman of the International Boxing Federation, confirmed to BoxingScene.com that IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) and mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev (25-1, 13 KOs) will be ordered to begin negotiations in the coming days. - See more at: Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev Set To Be Ordered, Says IBF - Boxing News
So AJ finds himself in the same situation as Fury was when Klitschko activated the rematch clause......
I like this fight, it's a good technical boxer which AJ has to get used to fighting that kind of style. The less he gets hit by those guys the less the power punchers will hit him too. I think it allows AJ a victory lap kind of fight (not that he should take Pulev lightly) and he should be able to go out dominate and score another impressive KO.
I hope AJ does well should this fight come off I think he ends it in 7 if he's in good shape and recovered from the fight with Wlad.
Also hopefully this will set up one of the following: A rematch vs Wlad (after Wlad has a tune up fight just to get back in the W column), a unification bout vs Wilder (everyone wants THAT fight), or the "Battle of Britain" vs Tyson Fury which is no doubt a gigantic fight that a lot of people want to see. For me, I'd like to see AJ vs Wilder it's undefeated vs undefeated it's power vs power, and I think it could be one of the biggest fights in the past 20 or so years just because the timing of it fits so perfectly only problem would be where to hold it US or UK? It'll be amazing regardless of location I am sure.
Mandatories happen :rolleyes: Gee I wonder if AJ will balloon up to 500 pounds and snort a bunch of cocaine in protest :vd:Quote:
Originally Posted by smashup
Wlad has a rematch clause, it's kinda standard procedure at this point
Not the worst mandatory if he has to take it. Pulev is a pretty decent fighter.
I think it's a good fight for Joshua to take at this stage. It gives Wlad time to decide if he wants the rematch and also it's a fight that's winnable against another contender but will present stylistic difficulties for AJ to gain experience from.
Not a bad fight off of Wlad and would rather see him vs Pulev than have ibf ship someone far less into that infamous #1 "not rated" spot. Not sure how heavy bagging Kevin Johnson and beating a Mardi Gras float sized Sam Peter get you #1 but Pulev has some tools. Be interesting to see AJs growth and new approach after Wlad learning experience.
I think it was the chisora fight that got him into the mandatory spot somehow and he has been taking the crap keep busy fights since then(fat sam and fat kev :S)...Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Pulev is good but I dont think he has the power to keep joshua off him for the whole fight, he could win some rounds early though, he seems to be smart when it comes to the rough side of boxing too so he could frustrate him a bit too but I would be betting on joshua landing something big and putting him to sleep at some point.
Think your right with power and keeping AJs respect. It's a good contrast really and as impressive as he was beating Wlad, tons of factors off a win like that. It's a career win but it's not a career conclusion. Does he have a let down? Still lacks late rounds and not a defensive wiz. But eventually Pulev will run out of ring. I just don't understand why the ibf cannot fill it's legit mandatory number one slot. They are the only sanctioning group to maintain these crooked "not rated" slots in all but 3 divisions last I checked. Still though who cares, it's a good match.Quote:
Originally Posted by palmerqI think it was the chisora fight that got him into the mandatory spot somehow and he has been taking the crap keep busy fights since then(fat sam and fat kev :S)...Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Pulev is good but I dont think he has the power to keep joshua off him for the whole fight, he could win some rounds early though, he seems to be smart when it comes to the rough side of boxing too so he could frustrate him a bit too but I would be betting on joshua landing something big and putting him to sleep at some point.
its refreshing to open a thread about a potential defence for a world champ and everyone being positive about it
I think its a good fight also
Joshua gets more people at his weigh-ins than Wilder does his fights.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Wilder isn't a PPV fighter in the US, he's not even a Vegas fighter or draw outside his 5-10k in Alabama. His biggest fight outside there - with Stiverne - did 4000 tickets (that's probably comped too).
Wilder is happy to play the b-side against Bellew let alone Joshua.
yep I'd be happy with this as his next fight - despite it being what I believe a quick 4-5 round easy win for Joshua.
Only seen Pulev fight once against Wlad.
Let's face it we'd be well excited about this one had the Klitschko fight not happened.
We'll know a bit more about AJ after this too.
Can't help feeling that 'milk the game for all you can' Haye will somehow get his opportunity in the next 12 months...
Sky probably did not want Haye, Wilder and Bellew on the same platform with all their ego's there would have been fireworks.
Yeah I get all of that, I really really do....I also get that NYC and Las Vegas are places that fight fans travel to...Alabama not so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by FensterJoshua gets more people at his weigh-ins than Wilder does his fights.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Wilder isn't a PPV fighter in the US, he's not even a Vegas fighter or draw outside his 5-10k in Alabama. His biggest fight outside there - with Stiverne - did 4000 tickets (that's probably comped too).
Wilder is happy to play the b-side against Bellew let alone Joshua.
It does make more sense to hold those fights in the UK, but again I ain't the promoter and promoters are going to decide where these fights happen...I agree with you, I'm just saying there's a possibility the promoters decide to hold the fights in the US especially for such a crazy amazing fight as this....first undefeated champ vs undefeated champ since Holyfield-Bowe I, that's a HUGE thing for boxing in general.
If this fight were to happen, it could land in the States, but I very much doubt that.Quote:
Originally Posted by El KabongYeah I get all of that, I really really do....I also get that NYC and Las Vegas are places that fight fans travel to...Alabama not so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by FensterJoshua gets more people at his weigh-ins than Wilder does his fights.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Wilder isn't a PPV fighter in the US, he's not even a Vegas fighter or draw outside his 5-10k in Alabama. His biggest fight outside there - with Stiverne - did 4000 tickets (that's probably comped too).
Wilder is happy to play the b-side against Bellew let alone Joshua.
It does make more sense to hold those fights in the UK, but again I ain't the promoter and promoters are going to decide where these fights happen...I agree with you, I'm just saying there's a possibility the promoters decide to hold the fights in the US especially for such a crazy amazing fight as this....first undefeated champ vs undefeated champ since Holyfield-Bowe I, that's a HUGE thing for boxing in general.
Wilder can guarantee £5m - £10m in the U.K. Money talks and he would be well up for that.
No matter how big it became in the States, apart from Floyd/Manny, when was the last time 2 fighters shared £20m - £30m?
I'd like to see Joshua have a similar fight like this against Parker, but this would be a good match too. Let's wait just a bit for another super fight. Let Joshua have a victory lap and sharpen his skills a bit more. Get that glittering 20-0 20 KOs record then go for Wilder.
Mate, don't get taken for a mug, they're all buddies really. I bet you still leave a mince pie out for Santa!;DQuote:
Originally Posted by Master
Joshua won't duck anyone that's for sure.
Apart from Bellew of course. That's just suicide
I just hope the IBF don't get trigger happy and end up splintering the titles again. Can Wlad fight someone else before excising his rematch clause? If so it would be nice if he shut Briggs (possibly Oquendo but Briggs has the history with Wlad) up once and for all and brought the 'WBA' strap into the rematch.
I was making the point that Wilder doesn't have a problem with going to the UK.Quote:
Originally Posted by El KabongYeah I get all of that, I really really do....I also get that NYC and Las Vegas are places that fight fans travel to...Alabama not so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by FensterJoshua gets more people at his weigh-ins than Wilder does his fights.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Wilder isn't a PPV fighter in the US, he's not even a Vegas fighter or draw outside his 5-10k in Alabama. His biggest fight outside there - with Stiverne - did 4000 tickets (that's probably comped too).
Wilder is happy to play the b-side against Bellew let alone Joshua.
It does make more sense to hold those fights in the UK, but again I ain't the promoter and promoters are going to decide where these fights happen...I agree with you, I'm just saying there's a possibility the promoters decide to hold the fights in the US especially for such a crazy amazing fight as this....first undefeated champ vs undefeated champ since Holyfield-Bowe I, that's a HUGE thing for boxing in general.
However, the fight wont happen until Joshua has headlined primetime in the states, as the TV networks already plan to make him a PPV star in the states, hence HBO/Showtime colluding with the long term goal in mind.
Anthony Joshua will fight Kubrat Pulev next if Wladimir Klitschko retires, says promoter Eddie Hearn
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/anthony-joshua-fight-kubrat-pulev-10406840
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing...pulev-10406840
Ortiz also wants his WBA mandatory shot that he's already stepped aside once for AJ v Wlad to go ahead.
Just before the Klitschko fight the WBA changed course and stated that they may grant the winner of the fight a "special permit" to make one more voluntary defense before facing Ortiz. Joshua also has an IBF mandatory due against Kubrat Pulev which muddles the situation even more. - See more at: http://www.boxingscene.com/luis-orti....jeKiHIYA.dpuf
So it's either a Klitschko rematch, Pulev or Ortiz for AJ next
Aside from Klitschko, Wilder, Parker and the (hopefully)returning Fury, there isnt a huge amount of interest in the chasing pack is there?. Pulev is alright and Ortiz is the best heavy out there according to plenty of people, but realistically by the time Ortiz gets a shot at Joshua he's going to be touching 40. You've got Whyte and Breazeale heading in the right direction career wise, but both got smashed by Joshua. I guess you could add Hughie to the heading in the right direction group but he needs to take one of these opportunities he's been handed on a silver platter.. Breazeale derailed Ugonoh. You've got Jarrell Miller, but he's going to get found out soon I reckon. He might have to fight the Briggs Oquendo winner to cement his legacy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Memphis
Yeah agree those first 4 you mentioned are the glamour of the division, Wilder def needs to step up and have a real fight that gets people talking as he just treads water for me currently.
I feel a bit sorry for Ortiz he's basically the outcast of the Bunch and looks set to miss out again on a title shot as i've read the IBF have some loophole where he might have to step aside yet again if Wlad decides to activate the rematch clause.
At 40 years old that's a huge second kick in the bollocks..... problem is he is boring to watch and nowhere near box office.
I actually rate Breazeale and Whyte as the dark horses and could see one of them having a decent career, Breazeale seriously impressed me against AJ, although he's pretty limited he's a big fella and proven hard as nails and his last fight against Ugonoh was a belter and just cemented the fact.
Breazeale Ugonoh was a good scrap, great to watch. But Breazeale was disappointing. He was all over social media about how he was doing the grind, getting in fantastic shape. He looked proper fat and what little technique he had looked like it was punched out of him by Joshua. I cant see him ruffling any decent feathers.
Whyte is a concern. When he fought AJ I thought here's a proper hard cunt that will be a handful for anyone, great chin, can clump a bit. He seems to me to be training the devil out of himself. He's trying to be a boxer when he was built to be a tear up merchant. He'll beat Wach. Wach's a proper hard cunt too so he'll be around all night and no doubt have a couple of moments himself, it'll be Whyte on points all day long. I can't see Whyte winning a title.
Agreed on Ortiz. Proper boogieman that people can justifiably give the swerve because he's not this or that when the reality is, he might just bash them up.
Whyte not managing to put an ageing battle worn Chisora away might have shown his limits and could be a worry and your right he should just going all out Tyson style and fighting to his strengths thug style , Breazeale i think is tough for anyone though....the cunt just won't go away and doesn't know when he's beaten ;D bearing in mind he's only been a pro 5 years, he's only lost once against AJ and i think won most of his other 16/17 fights by KO is not bad stuff from an ex Quarterback, What is he 6 ft 7 or 8 tall too?
Whyte v Breazeale is a possible eliminator somewhere down the line and that's a great fight if it happens :cool:
I hope Daniel Dubois proves to be what Warren claims he will be but it's impossible to judge after seeing him face the likes of Marcus Fat cunt "Caveman" Kelly.
As you guys are saying it is sad that no one will give Ortiz his shot. I actually think Joshua could beat him but it would be a very dangerous fight. Ortiz is slower than Joshua and getting a little bit slower by the month I'd think.
I dont think Joshua will swerve Ortiz for one minute. Ortiz is mandatory for the WBA, Pulev the IBF. They'll both want to have their shot, it's up to them to figure out who goes first. The WBA have all but said Joshua can have a voluntary and it looks like the Wlad rematch will go ahead.
There's a great video on Youtube of a guy who provides 'proof' that Ortiz has been ducked by every Tom Dick and Harry out there, it's brilliant in a mad factually inaccurate kinda way. I dont dislike Ortiz, he's a skilled guy but Im by no means offended that he hasnt had a shot yet, he could have tried not being a drug cheat to expedite the process?