Deontay Wilder gives verdict on Anthony Joshua’s next opponent
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has heaped praise on Kubrat Pulev, who is set to challenge Anthony Joshua for the WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles later this year.
“He’s a brave and strong fighter,” the ‘Bronze Bomber’ said of Pulev during an interview with ESPN.
“I haven’t seen too much of Pulev because he hasn’t been out there too much.
“The things that I have seen, he definitely put up great fights, Klitschko and stuff, I think he’s strong-willed, strong-minded.”
Tyson Fury given Deontay Wilder advice
Fury has pillows as fists, and that’s what he has. He’s a skillful boxer, but he don’t hit hard, said Deontay Wilder on his rematch with Tyson Fury.
Tyson Fury’s former coach Ben Davidson believes ‘The Gypsy King’ will have to slightly adapt his style if he wants to win his rematch with Deontay Wilder later this month, insisting the lineal heavyweight champion has to smother the hard-hitting American.
“Something I asked him to do was when he changed his height, he had to smother Wilder,” Davison told BT Sport.
“Because then I’m nullifying him from throwing punches.
“Two ways not to get hit are too far away or too close. ‘I watched David Haye vs (Jean-Marc) Mormeck. David done it to Mormeck.
“[Mormeck] was pressure, pressure, pressure, but as soon as David smothered him, you can’t throw your shots.
“I’m going to walk you back and leave space behind me, so I have space to work with again.
“I think that’s going to be a massive, massive adaption for Tyson going into the rematch.”
Deontay Wilder sends message to Tyson Fury
Wilder has warned Fury he risks putting himself in danger of being knocked out if he opts to try and take him out early in their rematch.
“You never know what to expect with Fury, but one thing for sure that is hard to believe is him knocking me out in 2 rounds, and being the aggressor,” Wilder told BT Sport. “I really can’t see that at this point in time, but who knows?
“When he gets in the ring he may feel lucky and feel some confidence that he’s going to do what he says he’s going to do, but it’s going to be very dangerous for him if he proceeds along with that idea.
“He didn’t hurt me at all. Fury has pillows as fists, and that’s what he has. He’s a skillful boxer, but he don’t hit hard. He did it the first time, and then to do it the second time and you’re going off the same, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’”
Anthony Joshua showdown plotted by Gerald Washington after Andy Ruiz Jr training help
Gerald Washington has lost three out of his last five fights. But he’s keen to show what he has learnt and if he beats Charles Martin on the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury undercard, he’s targeting a big showdown with Anthony Joshua.
American heavyweight boxer Gerald Washington is targeting a future bout with Anthony Joshua. Washington features on the undercard of Deontay Wilder’s blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury on February 22 where he faces Charles Martin in Las Vegas.
Joshua overcame Martin four years ago to win his first world title, and Washington will be looking to do the same this month.
If he does, he’s hoping that the current WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion will be in his sights.
“The plan is to hunt down Joshua,” Washington told Sky Sports.
“We’re working to be that next IBF mandatory after Kubrat Pulev. I got to see AJ first-hand in Saudi Arabia, he’s a great fighter, that’s our goal.
“My full focus is on Charles Martin and I’m not looking at ‘AJ’ right now. I know he has a couple of tests in front of him, we’ll just have to keep on track and see what the future holds for everyone.”
One thing Washington believes could help him if he steps in the ring with Joshua one day is training with Andy Ruiz Jr, who beat Joshua last June in New York to become the first Mexican heavyweight world champion.
Washington was in the Ruiz camp ahead of their December rematch in Saudi Arabia- a fight AJ won on points.
“I helped Ruiz Jr, it was a great experience for myself. I don’t have much amateur experience or too many fights on the record so it was brilliant for me to learn and get better,” Washington said.
“Being in the ring with Andy and knowing his style, I understand what happened in that first fight. Joshua done a great job preparing himself for the return though, not allowing it to happen again.”
Washington was unbeaten up until he was pummelled by Wilder in the fifth round three years ago.
Since then, he has lost further bouts to Jarrell Miller, who Joshua was scheduled to fight Joshua last June, and unbeaten Pole Adam Kowanacki who beat Martin on points in September 2018.
When Washington comes up against Martin on the undercard of such a huge event event, the eyes of the world will be on the Californian as he looks to put himself back in contention.
Washington continued: “To have this fight on the biggest of cards with the world’s eyes watching, this is a great opportunity for me to do my thing.”
“Martin is first though and he’s very talented, an ex-world champion, very tough and strong-willed. I’m looking forward to competing with him. I believe if I do my job well, not forcing anything, the stoppage will happen naturally.”
Martin himself is keen to put himself back in the frame for a world title, out of 30 career fights he has only lost two and has 24 knockouts to his name.
He’s a man on his own unique comeback trail, something he opened up about in November when asked about the gunshot he took in the aftermath of his fight against Joshua.
Martin told Sky Sports: “I needed to get out of that dark side.
“I’m a champion with a champion’s mentality and a champion’s spirit. I am not a normal person. I knew what I had to do, and I did it.
“I overcome things. It has made me stronger. I’m happy that I’ve endured these things.”
Washington and Martin have took big knocks in boxing, but they’re not giving up on re-establishing themselves at world level and their bout against each other represents a chance for the American pair to prove this.
