Kubrat Pulev is adding some experience to his corner in hopes of an upset of heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Veteran trainer Joe Goossen will begin working with Pulev this week in Bulgaria.
“I’ll be in the ring with Kubrat Pulev,’’ Goossen said Saturday while working as a ringside commentator for the telecast of Robert Helenius’ fourth-round stoppage of Adam Kownacki in Brooklyn. “I’m his new trainer. I’m going to take off for Bulgaria next week and then to London for the press conference.’’
Goossen will be in the underdog’s corner for Pulev’s mandatory shot at Joshua on June 20 at Tottenham in north London.
For Goossen, it’s a chance to train his first heavyweight champion. Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) has won eight straight since Wladmir Klitschko stopped him in five rounds in November, 2014 in Germany. Goossen’s resume includes several champions, but all in the lower weight classes. He worked with Diego Corrales, Michael Nunn, Gabe Ruelas and Rafael Ruelas.
At heavyweight, Goossen, 66, has been in the corner for Lance Whitaker, Dominick Guinn, Malik Scott, Lionel Butler and Chris Arreola. He was in Arreola’s corner for his loss to Kownacki by unanimous decision on August 3 in Brooklyn.