Bob Arum explains why he believes Kubrat Pulev will beat Anthony Joshua and issues update on Tyson Fury talks

Promoter Bob Arum believes Kubrat Pulev will knock out Anthony Joshua in their world heavyweight title fight next month given how easy Andy Ruiz defeated the Briton in their first bout.

Arum, who promotes both Pulev and Tyson Fury in the United States, is convinced that Joshua will experience more struggles in the ring against Bulgarian Pulev because he is a “real tough, rugged heavyweight” who will be able to expose Joshua’s defence as Ruiz did in June last year.

The pair are due to meet at London’s O2 Arena on 12 December, although whether that goes ahead as planned remains to be seen as promoter Eddie Hearn was hoping to see fans return for the bout until the second national lockdown scuppered those plans.

However, if and when the bout eventually goes ahead, Arum believes Joshua is in for another shock after being “devastated” by Ruiz.

“I’m involved with everybody, including Eddie (Hearn). I said ‘don’t make plans so quick for a Fury-Joshua fight because I think Pulev is going to beat Joshua,” Arum said on the Gary Newbon Sports Show.

“Let me explain my theory. Joshua got knocked out by Andy Ruiz, who is not a puncher, never been a puncher, and I know that because thirty odd fights that Ruiz had, we promoted.

“He has quick hands, he’s not a bad heavyweight, but he’s not a puncher. He devastated Joshua and knocked him out.

“Then the second fight, what happened there? Joshua ran around the ring, Ruiz had celebrated so much and gotten so obese that he couldn’t catch him and that was the fight. So I think Joshua is still vulnerable and Pulev is a real tough, rugged heavyweight.”

Joshua will not have fought competitively for a year if next month’s bout goes ahead, though he has already reached a verbal agreement to face fellow British world champion Tyson Fury in a two-fight unification deal. However, Joshua will also have a rematch clause in his contract with Pulev, should he suffer defeat, that would see those planned fights against Fury delayed or even scrapped altogether.

Arum doesn’t fear that situation would impact on the appeal of a Fury vs Joshua fight though, despite the absence of a champion vs champion affair almost certain to impact on the finances of such a contest.

“No because if Pulev beats Joshua, Eddie, for various considerations, has Pulev sign a rematch provision,” he said.

“So I assume if Pulev beats Joshua, Joshua will elect the rematch provision and that would make a second Joshua vs Pulev fight and so Tyson would have to look for another opponent.”

Arum isn’t a fan of automatic rematch clauses, but believes if it is what it will take for Joshua and Fury to agree to terms for their planned fights then it will be included in final contract negotiations.

“When it was proposed to us on Fury’s side by Eddie, that’s what he proposed. A fight and a rematch,” Arum added. “I’m against rematches, I just think that for example if, as I believe, Joshua beats Pulev and Fury fights Joshua, I really believe that Fury will take Joshua out in two or three rounds, if that long.

“And then so who wants to see a rematch? But if Eddie insists on that rematch provision to get the deal done, we would go along with it.”

Fury was due to take on former WBC champions Deontay Wilder in the final match of their trilogy agreement, having lost his title to the Briton towards the start of this year. However, that fight has since been scrapped after the rematch clause in the original contract expired.

That led to a strong outburst from Wilder who made a series of allegations surrounding his defeat, which also resulted in the ‘Bronze Bomber’ sacking trainer Mark Breland after he threw in the towell to end the fight.

“People say crazy things in boxing,” Arum said. “Fury is out of a contract, doesn’t have to fight Wilder. That contract is over. If after the Anthony Joshua fights, if they occur, Fury wants to give Wilder a fight, that’s ok.

“But again, who wants to deal with Wilder? A guy saying all of these things and then he follows up the next day saying that he also believes that somebody drugged his water and blames his trainer Mark Breland for doing it? I mean isn't that preposterous?”