Arum predicts end of Anthony Joshua’s era after June 20

Kubrat Pulev’s promoter, Bob Arum has predicted that the Bulgarian will scupper Eddie Hearn’s plans for a heavyweight title unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, reports express.co.uk.

Pulev will challenge Joshua for the unified heavyweight titles on June 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, all the talk going into the contest is that of a Battle of Britain between Joshua and Fury, a fight which has become a distinct possibility following the latter’s victory over Deontay Wilder – whom he’ll rematch in June – last month.

Before the pair can finally trade blows, they must first come out of their respective bouts victorious.

Arum, who also happens to be Fury’s American promoter, is confident that won’t happen and firmly believes Joshua’s days as one of the big dogs in the heavyweight division will soon be a thing of the past.

“Take it to the bank,” the Top Rank Boxing chief said. “There won’t be an Anthony Joshua after June 20.”

Not only is Arum confident of Pulev dethroning Joshua, the veteran promoter believes he’ll hand the Brit his second stoppage loss. “Anthony Joshua is getting knocked out,” Arum said. “Listen, Anthony Joshua is getting knocked out, June 20 at Tottenham Stadium in London by my guy Kubrat Pulev.”

Should Pulev come up short in his second world title bid, Arum is happy to work with Hearn to make Joshua vs Fury happen.

He said: “I would have no problems working with him on a big unification show, but I’m telling you, it ain’t going to happen.”
Joshua and Pulev, 30 and 38 respectively, were first scheduled to meet one another in October 2017. A shoulder injury for Pulev, however, laid waste to their clash at the Principality Stadium – much to the annoyance of Joshua.

Pulev goes into his second world title fight as an underdog but is confident he’ll end Joshua’s second reign as a unified heavyweight and wreck plans for a mega-money showdown with Fury.

He said: “Becoming a heavyweight world champion has always been my mission in life and on June 20, 2020, I will fulfill my destiny.”

Pulev will enter his clash with Joshua riding an eight-fight win streak, with his last defeat coming at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014.

Joshua has the utmost respect for ‘The Cobra’, recently saying: “He’s been in the game for a while. He went to the top level and then he got defeated. So he knows his way around the ring.

“He’s had his chance at the top level and now he’s coming back again. So he’s probably going to try and get it right. So I’ll be expecting a more, you know, more polished smarter Pulev. And he can bang a bit as well. He’s had a few knockouts on his record as well.

“He can bang and he can box. So he’s a boxer-puncher. Kind of like what my style is as well. So it’ll be a good match-up, for sure.

“So we’re going to box, people are going be to seeing some skills and they’re probably to see a knockout as well because you’ve got two boxer-punchers. So the best man will come out victorious.”