Editor’s note: This article was originally pubished on DAZN.com.
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Kubrat Pulev suffered from a “pneumonia stage of COVID-19” while training for his heavyweight title challenge of Anthony Joshua last month, something his co-promoter Ivaylo Gotzev claims hindered his chances of winning the fight.
Pulev was dragged into deep waters several times before he was finished off in Round 9 on Dec. 12 at SSE Arena in London.
“He didn’t really have the power or the strength, nor did he have the sparring that he needed in preparation,” Gotzev told Sky Sports. “Once again, not excuses, just facts, and that’s what happened.”
Gotzev said the 39-year-old Bulgarian didn’t feel cancelling the fight was an option because he feared he wouldn’t get another opportunity. A serious shoulder injury forced Pulev to pull out of his first planned challenge of a then-undefeated Joshua in October 2017.
“He says, ‘No, I’m going through with it, I’m going to fight A.J., and I know I might never get a third chance at this fight ever again,'” Gotzev said. “It was too much to lose, not fighting for all those belts. He really believed in himself. He had a shot at cracking through A.J. and he tried.
“Within a month prior to the fight, he had COVID. He had to alter his training, and quite honestly I thought we were going home. Me to the U.S., him to Bulgaria. He met with doctors, and he made a decision. He is standing by his decision. He’s a warrior.
“Look, we’ve always given A.J. credit, and I’m giving him credit now, saying he’s a great athletic specimen. He’s fit, he’s physically strong, he can punch, but the weaknesses are obvious. There were glimpses of that when A.J. was getting frustrated every time that Kubrat got close and punched him. Kubrat just didn’t have enough.
“It does take your strength. Kubrat, his X-rays showed he went through a pneumonia stage, but he fought it off, and he was there for the fight.”
Pulev would like another shot at Joshua, who is expected to move on to a unification fight with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury in his next fight. If Pulev must win a big fight elsewhere to bounce back into title contention, Gotzev believes a good target could be Dillian Whyte. The Londor’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin — who stopped him in August — has been delayed because Povetkin has struggled with the coronavirus.
“Let’s not forget that right now we stand still in a winning column with Kubrat at 2-1 against top British heavyweights,” said Gotzev. “I’m referring to Dereck Chisora and Hughie Fury. So let’s keep the score going.
“Certainly one fight of great interest that I think style-wise and personalities would make for a great clash is Kubrat Pulev vs. Dillian Whyte, once he deals with Povetkin.
“Dillian Whyte has been very loud in the past talking about Kubrat and Kubrat feels like he is the perfect mouth he wants to shut. That’s a great heavyweight scrap for the future.”
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