All the details you need to watch the Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev heavyweight world title fight
How to watch ‘AJ’ vs ‘Cobra’
BBN have provided viewers with all the details needed to tune in and watch the eagerly awaited unified world heavyweight title fight between defending champion Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21KOs) and IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14KOs).
Date
The bout takes place on Saturday, December 12 – the same day in history that James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith knocked out Tim Witherspoon in the first round at Madison Square Garden to win the WBA World heavyweight championship, which is just one of four belts on the line here.
Venue
It takes place at The SSE Arena, Wembley.
Rounds scheduled
12 three-minute championship rounds at heavyweight.
Titles
AJ’s WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO World heavyweight titles are all on the line.
Ringwalks
The ring walks are expected from 10pm UK time, but that will depend on the undercard results.
TV Coverage
Coverage for Joshua-Pulev starts live on Sky Sports Box Office from 5pm, and will be broadcast on DAZN in the US.
You can follow the build-up to the fight all week long by checking out the schedule HERE, starting on Wednesday 9th.
Live Stream
You can watch online via the Sky Sports website here: https://www.skysports.com/watch
There is one other way that you can watch if you are not a Sky TV customer, or if you are just out and about on Saturday night by simply finding a suitable pub that is showing the event by visiting pubfinder.sky.com
BBN will be providing LIVE round-by-round results on fight night HERE
Price
The pay-per-view event on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491) and Sky Sports Box Office HD (Sky channel 492) is priced at £24.95 for UK customers, €27.95 for Republic of Ireland customers. Book online HERE
Tickets
There are just 1,000 tickets avalable, starting from £100 – details HERE
Undercard Highlights
Lawrence Okolie (14-0, 11KOs) challenges for the vacant WBO World cruiserweight title against former holder Krzysztof Glowacki (31-0,19KOs).
The 34-year-old from Poland defeated the joint-longest reigning cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck (42-5-1, 28KOs) in 2015 to win the WBO World title, which he defended once then lost to pound-for-pound superstar Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13KOs). He reeled off five consecutive victories, claiming the WBO interim title before receiving back his old crown after Usyk relinquished it to move up to heavyweight. He conceded it in his first defence to Latvian Mairis Briedis (26-1, 19KOs) in the WBSS semi-final.
The 27-year-old from Hackney is unbeaten in 14 fights and has collected British, Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles already. He also holds the WBA Continental belt and is ranked WBO #2 and IBF #5. His incredibly awkward style of fighting is not very pleasing to the eye, but it's 100% effective.
UPDATE: Following Krzysztof Glowacki's positive COVID-19 test last week, Hackney Cruiserweight star will now take on Poland's undefeated Nikodem Jezewski (19-0-1, 9 KOs).
Related Articles
Everything you ever need to know about Joshua-Pulev can be found HERE
Quotes
Anthony Joshua: “I am defending my Heavyweight World Titles. I’m back in my home city after some time away. The belts go back up in the air and nothing will stop me from being victorious. December 12 is the date and once again it is my sole focus to make sure that come December 13 they are in their rightful place in the UK. The O2 is the original lion’s den, I have a lot of history with the arena, but without the fans something huge is missing. I am really hoping that, safety permitting, we might be able to bring some boxing fans in, but we will have to see. I respect every opponent and I respect Pulev. I wish him well during his preparation.”
Kubrat Pulev: “I am happy to have the opportunity to show the world how strong I really am. Becoming a Heavyweight World Champion has always been my mission in life and on June 20 2020 I will fulfil my destiny! For a small country of Bulgaria to stand up for the Heavyweight Titles is a great accomplishment. This fight is for my late father and all Bulgarians around the world! I’m coming to London to seize the Heavyweight Championship of the World.”
Eddie Hearn: “After a challenging year for everyone, to end with the unified World Heavyweight Championship is very special. Over a year after regaining his crown, Anthony Joshua takes on yet another dangerous opponent in Mandatory Challenger Kubrat Pulev. AJ’s resume is unrivalled, and this is the final hurdle until we challenge for the undisputed crown next year.
“Whilst it’s unusual to think of an AJ fight without tens of thousands of fans in attendance, we will be doing everything we can to lobby for the safe return of fans to this event, we have to move forward together. I know Team Pulev and Bob Arum will be doing all they can to become World Champion on December 12 but AJ constantly evolves and improves and I expect a dominant performance and a spectacular KO to close out 2020.”
Bob Arum, Top Rank Chairman, said: “Eddie Hearn better watch out. Kubrat Pulev is going to destroy his plan for a Joshua-Tyson Fury unification fight.”
Predictions
Chris Healey, Heavyweight from Stockport
"Think it will be a Joshua win. I think Pulev is a good fighter and can bang, but is past his best now. Unless Pulev catches him with a big shot then I've got joshua winning on points, and we can finally have Joshua vs Fury – got Fury all the way with that fight."
Read all the predictions HERE
Background
Joshua vs Pulev was due to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on June 20 but was officially postponed in early April whilst in lockdown.
Pulev is an EU Championships and European Championships amateur champion, as well as a World Championships bronze medallist. The 39-year-old Bulgarian is a two-time European titleholder and world title contender. His sole professional career defeat was to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 where he was decked three times on his way to a fifth-round stoppage loss, with over 13 million viewers tuning in to watch the event.
This is the second time he has been made IBF mandatory and first time fighting in the UK. Three years ago, the pair were actually meant to meet, but an injury forced Pulev to withdraw and Carlos Takam became the last-minute replacement.
Anthony Joshua OBE, is a two-time world heavyweight champion who shot to fame when he won gold at the London 2012 Olympics. The one man that beat Pulev, Joshua defeated himself in an epic battle at Wembley Stadium. Although AJ won by knockout in the 11th round, it was a back and forth war that saw both fighters touch down. The Ukrainian that Joshua fought in that fight wasn't the same dominant force that blitzed his way through Pulev though, so it's not an accurate measuring stick to go by for this forthcoming fight.
The 30-year-old Londoner is the clear favourite and after a few important lessons lately, he should come through this encounter with all his belts still wrapped around his waist, to set up the fight of the century against Tyson Fury next year!
Betting Odds Supplied by Star Sports
1/10 Anthony Joshua
13/2 Kubrat Pulev
40/1 Draw
Weights
QAIS ASHFAQ 8st 12lbs 4oz
ASHLEY LANE 8st 10lbs 6oz
FLORIAN MARKU 10st 6lbs 15oz
JAMIE STEWART 10st 5lbs 14oz
KIERON CONWAY 11st 5lbs 10oz
MACAULAY MCGOWAN 11st 4lbs 7oz
MARTIN BAKOLE 17st 13lbs 6oz
SERGEY KUZMIN 18st 6lbs 7oz
HUGHIE FURY 17st 9lbs 5oz
MARIUSZ WACH 19st 8lbs 6oz
LAWRENCE OKOLIE 14st 3lbs 13oz
NIKODEM JEZEWSKI 14st 3lbs 11oz
ANTHONY JOSHUA 17st 2lbs 13oz
KUBRAT PULEV 17st 1lbs 11oz
Running Order
Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev
12×3 WBA Super, IBF, WBO, IBO World heavyweight titles
Lawrence Okolie vs Nikodem Jezewski
12×3 WBO World International cruiserweight title
Hughie Fury vs Mariusz Wach
10×3 Heavyweight contest
Martin Bakole vs Sergey Kuzmin
10×3 WBC International title
Kieron Conway vs Macauley McGowan
10×3 Super-welterweight contest
Florian Marku vs Alex Fearon
8×3 Welterweight contest
Qais Ashfaq vs Ashley Lane
8×3 Super-bantamweight contest
UPDATES:
Krzysztof Glowacki tested positive for COVID-19
Ramla Ali tested positive for COVID-19
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