Unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will have to take risks to nullify the threat posed by IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, Peter Fury has warned.
Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) is currently awaiting a new date and venue for his postponed defence against Bulgarian Pulev, who trainer Fury faced with son Hughie back in 2018.
The 30-year-old Joshua reclaimed the WBA Super, WBO and IBF titles with a unanimous decision victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. back in December, but Fury has warned the Watford man of the risks that lie ahead against the dangerous Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs).
“Pulev is very cagey and he’ll come in top condition as well, and he’s really up for this fight,” Peter Fury told Sky Sports. “He’s got a very good jab. He’s a very underestimated boxer is Pulev. He’s very awkward.
“You’ve got to break him down and AJ will have to take chances in this fight, because he’s not going to just simply be able to land that double jab and right hand on Pulev, no matter how sharp he is.
“AJ has got to take it to him and be explosive, but be clever with it. You have to fancy the younger man, but like I said, you can’t put anything past Pulev, because he’s a very cute, professional fighter.
“It’s not a pushover fight this, it’s a serious fight. When people are famous in boxing everyone expects them to win, but it’s not the case in this fight. This fight is a dangerous fight for [Joshua]. If he doesn’t keep 100 per cent focused, this fight can slip from him again.
“[Pulev] is an overwhelming kind of guy. If he gets going, gets in a routine, then he can grind you down. It’s definitely not a fight for AJ to go on his back foot, because that will definitely suit Pulev down to a tee. It’s not easy to outbox Pulev.”