By Barry Holbrook: Trainer Manny Robles is picking IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, to defeat challenger Kubrat Pulev this Saturday night at the SSE Arena in London, England.
(Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Robles, who used to train Andy Ruiz Jr, feels that Joshua has got the talent to knock out Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs), but he’s got to be careful. When Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) throws his right hand, he’s got to be ready for the left from Pulev.
In Joshua’s defeat to Ruiz Jr in June 2019, he left himself open after throwing a hard right in the third round; Ruiz took advantage of Joshua’s careless mistake by nailing him with a big left hook that badly hurt him.
Ruiz ended up dropping Joshua twice in the third round, stopping him in the seventh.
Robles predicts Joshua winning by knockout
“Here is my prediction for the Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev fight on Saturday night,” said Andy Ruiz’s former trainer Manny Robles.
“I feel Anthony Joshua will come out victorious. I sense a knockout in the later rounds, and I believe Anthony Joshua will be able to control the tempo and go out there and control the center of the ring, work behind the jab, and set-up the big right hand.
“I don’t see the fight going the distance in my opinion, but I do believe Pulev will give him a run for his money. Pulev is no pushover, he’s a good heavyweight and the mandatory to the belt. So I see a good fight,” said Robles.
It’s an easy pick by Robles in choosing Joshua to win by knockout because the chances are high that he”ll get to Pulev’s chin. We saw how Wladimir Klitschko was able to drop Pulev in their fight in 2014 repeatedly.
Joshua’s weakness
“The only weakness that I see in Anthony Joshua at this point is that right hand,” said Robles. “He’s got to be careful. He’s got a great jab, and he’s got to come back and pick up that left hand right away.
“If he’s open to the right hand, things can change because it’s happened in the past. So he’s got to make that adjustment, but I do see him coming out victorious as I said.
“He’s a disciplined fighter, he knows how to adjust. He’s a student of the game, and he will definitely be able to make adjustments if need be.
“But I see him coming out victorious once again, and I can’t wait for the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight,” said Robles.
Joshua’s weakness was still there in his rematch with Ruiz, but he could get away with it due to Andy’s poor condition.
Pulev looks in good shape, as we in his workout the other day. He’s able to move around the ring and get to Joshua if he runs as he did against Ruiz.