ANTHONY JOSHUA emphatically knocked out a resilient Kubrat Pulev after nine thrilling rounds.
Pulev picked himself up off the floor three times before he was finished off for good and laid out on the deck.
Anthony Joshua emphatically knocked out a resilient Kubrat PulevCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
AJ landed a string of devastating uppercuts which left the Bulgarian barely beating the count.
But Joshua made no mistake of closing out the show as soon as the ref waved the action on, as a beautiful one-two ended it all.
Here SunSport runs down the fight round by round…
ROUND 1
Joshua comes out feinting, looking nimble on his feet but cautious.
A cagey opener, but Joshua lands the jab to head and body more frequently.
Pulev does, however, hold the centre of the ring.
AJ came out cagey in the opening round Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ROUND 2
First right hand of the fight lands for AJ as Pulev lunges in.
He then opens up with a combination but Pulev shows off smart defence and covers up well.
Joshua is winning the battle of the jabs but has his heavy shots blocked.
Pulev lands a jab on champion Joshua Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
ROUND 3
Joshua counters a jab with a massive right hand which shakes Pulev’s legs.
AJ pours on the pressure as Pulev desperately holds on but he’s backed into a corner, turns his back and the ref calls an eight-count.
Joshua comes out swinging and lands with massive uppercuts, sending Pulev crashing to the canvas.
The challenger beats the count and just about makes it past the round with two knockdowns scored against him.
Pulev turns his back and receives a standing eight-count Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ROUND 4
Pulev starts the round on the back foot but Joshua looks cautious, learning from the mistakes he made in the first Andy Ruiz Jr fight last year.
The Bulgarian underdog comes forward with a big one-two but the champion just evades the trouble.
Pulev lands a short uppercut to end the round. He recovered from the disastrous third in convincing fashion.
Joshua roars in the face of his Bulgarian challenger Credit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd
ROUND 5
The pace has slowed at the start of the fifth but as the two comes close, Joshua throws a double uppercut.
Big right hand lands over the top for AJ, but Pulev shows his experience by holding on.
Pulev lands two right hands of his own to close out the round, a sign he is still in the fight.
Big right hand lads over the top for AJCredit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd
ROUND 6
Pulev comes out quickly, for the first time showing real urgency.
Joshua is staying on the outside, flicking the jab out but just misses with a right hand over the top.
AJ appears to have let Pulev recover from the early onslaught.
Big right uppercut lands for Joshua down the middle Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ROUND 7
Joshua lands a right hand but forces Pulev to cover up – the champ finds home with a short uppercut on the inside.
AJ comes forward, triples up with his right uppercut but Pulev SMILES back at Brit star.
Pulev lands a one-two down the middle to close out the round, showing off amazing resilience.
AJ tripled up the uppercut in round seven Credit: AP:Associated Press
ROUND 8
Pulev scores with a right hand to the top of Joshua’s head, but AJ fires back with two hooks of his own.
The challenger throws a wide left hook which Joshua just ducks underneath in a close call.
Joshua again lands with a big uppercut but just misses with the following left hook.
Joshua comes forward with a big right hand Credit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd
ROUND 9
Left hand rocks Pulev’s head back, AJ comes forward and lands FOUR consecutive uppercuts which finally drops his man.
Pulev beats the count but straight away Joshua throws a perfect one-two combination down the middle and lays the challenger out.
Joshua has done it – four knockdowns in total to close out an action-packed nine rounds.
Joshua lays Pulev out and wins by knockout Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
Tyson Fury reacts to Anthony Joshua win over Kubrat Pulev blasting he s— himself on TV, I’ll KO him in three rounds
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
