After an extended break Anthony Joshua was back in the ring against Kubret Pulev. As expected, Joshua won with a ninth round knockout. But that wasn’t the story coming in the fight.
What everyone wanted to know was what style would Joshua use? Would he be aggressive and press the action? Would he fought a more tactical fight like he did in his second fight against Andy Ruiz?
With the possibility of two fights against Tyson Fury in 2021, boxing fans wanted a sneak peek at who Joshua is.
The first two rounds looked a lot like he second fight with Ruiz. He stayed behind his jab and even looked tentative at times but then the third round happen.
Joshua morphed back to the Joshua from his first 20 fights. He came after Pulev knocking him down twice. He hurt Pulev with the right hand. The second knockdown came on a vicious uppercut. Sure, at times, Joshua got wild in the round and a more polished fighter could have capitalized but it was great for fans to see Joshua be the hunter he has been most of his career.
Give Pulev some credit. He came out in the fourth round with a certain level of aggression but Joshua kept composed. He got back on his jab which Pulev ate like a patrons at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
In the ninth round, Joshua would finish off the fight in style. He pummeled Pulev with uppercuts, sending him to the canvas. Pulev got back up only to get pounded by a right hand that sent him back to the canvas, this time for the 10-count.
It’s this type of style that makes the upcoming fight (hopefully) with Fury. “It’s only fight to be made in boxing,” said Eddie Hearn after Joshua’s victory.
Joshua isn’t the one-trick pony like Deontay Wilder.
Joshua’s jab sets up his offense. The jab isn’t a “touch em” jab. It’s a snapping jab that he can throw to the body ala Floyd Mayweather Jr. When he establishes the jab, it allows him to get more and more aggressive with the right hand. Joshua flashed a hard left hook later in the fight against Pulev.
Fury won’t be the “smart guy” in the ring. Both fighters have a high boxing IQ. Certainly higher than Wilder’s. Both also can be entertaining fighters. We saw in the Fury-Wilder rematch, how capable the Gypsy King can of breaking down a fighter with a combination of superior boxing skills and power.
There’s no doubt Joshua can counter that with his stinging jab and monster right hand along with a devastating uppercut.
Joshua-Fury could be the heavyweight instant classic that boxing needs.
