Kubrat Pulev says Anthony Joshua lacks mental toughness and he'll expose him December 12
- Anthony Joshua makes the first title defense in his second reign as a world champion on December 12.
- The British heavyweight fights the Bulgarian boxer Kubrat Pulev, who is vowing to expose him next month.
- Pulev has been training at altitude in Eastern Europe and said Joshua lacks mental toughness.
- The 39-year-old is planning to humiliate the champion, wresting the titles from his waist. "I will expose him," Pulev said.
Kubrat Pulev said Anthony Joshua lacks mental toughness and he'll expose him during their fight December 12.
The Bulgarian boxer challenges Joshua for the Briton's WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight championship belts at a behind-closed-doors show in London next month.
It will be Pulev's first world title fight since 2014 when he was knocked out in the fifth round by Wladimir Klitshcko — his only loss to date.
Speaking on the blog of betting firm Betway, Pulev said he's more experienced now, won't make the same mistakes as he did against Klitschko, and will be looking to expose Joshua's vulnerabilities.
"I have been watching his fights carefully," the 39-year-old said.
"He has a good style and he is a good specimen, but he has not shown any mental toughness. 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."
Pulev's confidence in his own toughness perhaps comes from how he has spent his training camp, running around the Pirin mountain region in southwest Bulgaria.
The veteran fighter has been preparing for battle at the Belmeken Olympic sport complex — a high-altitude camp.
It is from that camp where Pulev has been planning to do to Joshua what Andy Ruiz Jr. did last year.
Joshua was supposed to finish Ruiz in his American debut — a coming-out party as a top-tier boxer at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Instead, he was dropped four times in a crushing, humiliating loss.
Joshua recaptured the world titles in Saudi Arabia late, last year — a rematch in which he coasted toward a decision win over Ruiz.
The 12-round fight in December is Joshua's first bout of the pandemic and his first title defense during his second reign as a world heavyweight boxing champion.
But Pulev wants to humiliate him once again.
"I can tell the fans that I will expose AJ again and prove they have been idolizing the wrong guy," said Pulev. "I will expose him to the world for a second time."
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