Anthony Joshua vs Pulev LIVE: Stream, latest updates, UK start time and how to watch online

Joshua credits Klitschko for getting him in shape ahead of Pulev fight

Heavyweight world champion has taken lessons from Klitschko’s approach to try and get back his boxing sharpness in sparring after a year out of the ring

BAD BLOOD

For the most part, things had been cordial between Joshua and Pulev this week. That all changed at yesterday’s weigh-in, however.

Pulev had a few choice words for Joshua, leading to a heated exchange that forced security to step in.

Here’s what Joshua said to his challenger during the hostile confrontation:

Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev have hostile face-off ahead of title fight

Pair clash at Wembley Arena in London on Saturday night with AJ’s belts on the line

A COMMON FOE

Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) and Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) have just one shared opponent: Wladimir Klitschko.

Joshua stopped the former champion in the 11th round at Wembley Stadium in 2017, while Pulev did not fare so well against the Ukrainian.

Klitschko finished Pulev in the fifth round when the pair met in 2014, marking the sole defeat of the Bulgarian’s professional career.

Pulev certainly came up against a more formidable version of ‘Dr Steelhammer’, though; Klitschko was 41 when he fought Joshua but 38 when he took on ‘The Cobra’.

PULEV’S LONG WAIT

Pulev was set to face Joshua in Cardiff back in 2017, but a shoulder injury ruled the challenger out of the bout.

As a result, Joshua defended against Carlos Takam, defeating the Cameroonian-born Frenchman with a 10th-round TKO.

Three years later, a 39-year-old Pulev finally gets his shot at Joshua, 31. Has the Bulgarian missed his chance to truly trouble the Briton, however? Or can he shock the world tonight?

ONE YEAR ON

Joshua is finally back in the ring after 12 months away. The last time the Briton competed was last December, when he rematched Andy Ruiz Jr.

The Mexican-American stunned Joshua in Madison Square Garden last June as AJ’s American debut ended in a seventh-round TKO defeat, but Joshua exacted his revenge in Saudi Arabia, outpointing Ruiz comfortably in a mature, technical showing.

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