Boxing
More than two years after he last boxed on home soil, Anthony Joshua put on a fantastic show on his return to the United Kingdom.
The WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion stopped Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round at Wembley Arena, London.
Going into the fight, many of us were wondering which 'AJ' we would see.
The explosive, powerful
combination puncher who raced to a world title in just his 16th professional fight?
The vulnerable, dazed
fighter who was stopped and shocked by Andy Ruiz in June 2019?
Or the technically astute
boxer who demonstrated his ring intelligence to avenge that defeat six months
later?
'At last I can get him in
the ring' - Joshua responds to Fury knockout taunt
When AJ beat Wladimir
Klitschko in 2017, a post-war record of 90,000 fans crammed into Wembley
Stadium. On Saturday night, just 1,000 fortunate spectators were allowed inside
Wembley Arena.
Hand sanitising, face marks
and social distancing - it was a whole new experience for the boxing fans in
attendance...
An echo of Neil Diamond's
Sweet Caroline bounced around the arena, cheers and jeers greeted every punch
and cries of 'Ohhh, Anthony Joshua' were frequent - those who were lucky enough
to bag a ticket certainly made their voices heard...
Even the Mayor of London was
pleased to see the return of boxing fans...
After a cagey opening, in
which both fighters sized each other up, Joshua sprung into life in the third
round.
A barrage of punches and
Pulev turned his back, giving the referee no option but to start the 10 count.
A Joshua uppercut followed, this time Pulev hitting the canvas.
Slipping jabs, unleashing
with vicious uppercuts, Joshua was unquestionably on top.
But Pulev, in an almost
sinister manner, just smiled throughout…
Boxing fans on Twitter point
out that Kubrat Pulev just laughed off Anthony Joshua's onslaught in the third
Joshua couldn't find the
finish, however, as Pulev settled in the middle rounds…
But it didn't take the
champion long to find that second wind.
Another onslaught floored
Pulev in the ninth. Somehow, he got back up. But a stunning and accurate Joshua
right ended the Bulgarian's quest for a world title.
It was a statement finish
against a top-level contender. And Joshua earned his plaudits...
Anthony Joshua beats Kubrat
Pulev and looks ahead to Tyson Fury fight
So Joshua has got past a
potential banana skin. And the stage is now set for what would undoubtedly be
the biggest - and probably richest - all-British heavyweight fight; Joshua v
Tyson Fury.
Over the past few weeks,
there has been speculation that WBC champion Fury would be in attendance on
Saturday night. But the 'Gypsy King' had already dismissed those rumours...
Although there was always
that little bit of wishful thinking Fury would still rock up. Remember, this is
the man who once turned up to a news conference dressed as Batman.
As expected, straight after
Joshua's win, attention turned to the potential Joshua-Fury mega fight in 2021...
It didn't take Fury long to
address his rival's performance.
"I want the fight next.
I'll knock him out in three rounds," he said in a video.
But will it actually happen?
Both fighters' promoters are sending out all the right signals.
Matchroom Boxing's Eddie
Hearn, who represents Joshua, said: "Starting from tomorrow, we make the
Tyson Fury fight straight away. It's the only fight to be made in boxing. It is
the biggest fight in British boxing history."
And American Bob Arum, who
co-promotes Fury, had this to say...
Despite Fury not gracing
Wembley with his presence, there was a suitable replacement.
Floyd Mayweather, one of the
greatest boxers of all time, hopped on his private jet from Las Vegas and made
a surprise appearance in London to cheer on Joshua...
This fan couldn't resist
having a pop at Mayweather for his planned exhibition bout against YouTuber
Logan Paul.
Credit: bbc.c.uk
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