‘He has NO mental toughness’: Kubrat Pulev vows to ‘expose’ Anthony Joshua in front of the world again and warns ‘his end will come like lightning’ ahead of next month’s world title showdown
- Kubrat Pulev has insisted his mental toughness is superior to Anthony Joshua’s
- Pulev believes that will see him prevail in December’s world title showdown
- He is taking confidence from what Andy Ruiz Jr did to Joshua in their first fight
- The 39-year-old has vowed to ‘expose’ him again and end his reign at the top
Kubrat Pulev has vowed to drag Anthony Joshua into a deep, dark place and ‘expose’ him in front of the world again ahead of next month’s heavyweight world title showdown.
The Bulgarian has been studying Joshua’s fights closely throughout his preparations and believes the unified champion does not have the mental toughness to survive against him.
Pulev, whose only other world title challenge ended in defeat against Wladimir Klitschko six years ago, is confident he can emulate Andy Ruiz Jr by springing a surprise and ending AJ’s spell at the top of the heavyweight division.
Anthony Joshua defends his WBA, WBO and IBF world titles against Kubrat Pulev next month
39-year-old Pulev believes Joshua has ‘no mental toughness’ and vowed to expose him again
‘I have been watching his fights carefully. He has a good style and he is a good specimen, but he has not shown any mental toughness,’ Pulev told Betway Insider blog.
‘Yes, he has skills, but he hasn’t shown the mental strength. This is something from within, in the blood of a man, and he does not have it.
‘Whatever mental toughness he’s got, I know I’m the harder person. This is the difference – my toughness will prevail.’
The 39-year-old, although a sturdy test for Joshua is merely seen as a stepping stone on the path to Tyson Fury and the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Joshua suffered a shock defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr last year and was floored multiple times
AJ won their rematch to regain the belts but Pulev is confident he can end his reign at the top
The Brit will seek to finalise his deal to fight Tyson Fury if he defeats Pulev in December
But Pulev is full of fighting talk and says Joshua is in for a rude awakening.
He warned the Brit: ‘This is going to be a mind game and a chess game for as long as it lasts – a master chess game – but the only difference is the end is going to come like lightning.
‘I can tell the fans that I will expose AJ again and prove they have been idolising the wrong guy. I will expose him to the world for a second time.’
His words of caution will not convince Joshua, who last week said he expects to ‘steamroll’ through Pulev before sitting down at the negotiating table to finalise a fight with Fury.
Pulev’s response to that bullish prediction? ‘He must have learnt that from Andy Ruiz because that’s what happened to him. Let’s see what happens.’