‘Humble yourself… I’m the champion and I’ll walk how I walk’: Anthony Joshua fires back at Kubrat Pulev in heated final exchange before heavyweight title showdown
- Tensions poured during the final weigh-in of Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev
- The two heavyweights got up in each other’s face and exchanged bitter words
- Joshua repeated urged his Bulgarian challenger to ‘humble yourself’
- Pulev goaded Joshua insisting he is ‘amazing’ and a ‘better boxer’
Anthony Joshua fought to maintain his cool composure during a heated final exchange with heavyweight challenger Kubrat Pulev, telling the Bulgarian he ‘doesn’t give a s***’ about his achievements.
With the testosterone flowing, the two men squared up on Friday as Pulev attempted to goad his opponent for one final time and deploy the last minute mind-games.
Known for his reserved nature, Joshua quickly found his blood boiling and started to point a finger into the face of his Bulgarian rival as security staff moved quickly to intervene.
Anthony Joshua placed a hand on the shoulder of his rival and urged him to ‘humble yourself’
Joshua gave Kubrat Pulev, a man eight years his senior, a dressing down prior to the fight
‘Let me tell you something, let me tell you something, humble yourself,’ Joshua could be heard saying to Pulev, who had started to whip himself up into a frenzy.
‘Tomorrow I’m going to finish you, humble yourself.’
Joshua then received some trash talk from a member of Pulev’s entourage which was inaudible on camera, though appeared to be a suggestion that Joshua should step in line.
The British heavyweight superstar quickly took exception to this, snapping back: ‘I’ll do what I want bruv, I’m the champion and I’ll walk how I walk, If he wants to act like this.’
The two heavyweight stars meet on Saturday evening, with Joshua’s titles on the line
Turning his attention firmly back to Pulev, Joshua opted to give the man eight years his senior a dressing down.
Staring square into his opponents eyes, Joshua told Pulev: ‘Your attitude is wrong.
‘I’m finished for today. You talk too much bro. Whoever you’ve been in with, these fighters that you’ve been fighting with, you’ve got it in your head you can fight someone like me.
‘Tomorrow we go to war, but right now humble yourself. Don’t come in here running your mouth.’
Eager to respond, Pulev said: ‘You know me. I respect you but tomorrow I show you,’ before attempting to reel off his list of achievements in the sport. Joshua, however, was having none of it.
‘Olympic champion, world champion…
Joshua quickly interjected: ‘I don’t care about that s***. I swear to god, you try your best and we’ll see who the last one standing is. For many years in boxing people like you have been talking. ‘tomorrow i show you.
‘You know I’m better. You know I’m amazing,’ Pulev added.
Pulev repeatedly tried to goad Joshua and told his rival he was ‘amazing’ and a ‘better boxer’
The two men will meet inside London’s SSE Arena in the shadow of Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening, with each of Joshua’s titles on the line.
Boxing fans are waiting anxiously for the outcome of the blockbuster showdown, in hope of Joshua sweeping aside his opponent and taking a step close to making an all-British showdown with rival Tyson Fury a reality.
Eager to snatch the final word before Saturday’s headline event, Pulev shouted over to Joshua as he headed for the door: ‘I respect you my friend, I don’t hate you. But tomorrow will be a good day for me because I’m a better boxer.’
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