Pulev next pretender to Klitschko throne

The Bulgarian has earned his first world title fight by becoming the IBF’s mandatory challenger.

The 33-year-old has 11 knockouts in 20 victories on his unblemished record, but sparked animosity when, left fuming after members of his promotional team were denied access to Monday’s pre-fight press conference, he boycotted the briefing.

“Because Klitschko is not behaving correctly, he doesn’t get my respect,” said Pulev. “He isn’t afraid and he will be tested (during the bout).”

The Ukrainian champion pulled out of the original fight in September due to a bicep injury,

He is unimpressed by the challenger’s pre-fight behaviour.

“I cannot believe it. He is ill-advised and it looks like brainwashing,” said a bemused Klitschko, who has an impressive record of 52 knockouts in 62 wins, with the last of his three defeats more than a decade ago. “Somebody in his entourage is pulling his strings.”

Pulev had knockout wins over Alexander Ustinov and Alexander Dimitrenko in 2012. His unanimous win over Tony Thompson in August last year ear ned him the right to fight Klitschko.

He kept busy last year by forcing Joey Abell of the US and Croatia’s Ivica Perkovic into retiring in the early rounds of their bouts.

“I am going to be dangerous, pressing the action early on Saturday. Wladimir will have to move a lot inside the ring,” said Pulev.

“This is going to be the most important fight of my career to date.” But Klitschko has seen it all before. The champion brushed off the latest extreme efforts by US boxer Shannon Briggs on Wednesday to earn a shot at the Ukrainian’s belts.

Briggs, 42, gate-crashed Klitschko’s opening training session in Hamburg be- fore being ejected from the building by security guards.

“The people don’t want Klitschko any more. I’m the real champ. The world wants to see the Klitschko-Briggs fight,” bellowed the American.

He also disrupted the press conference before Klitschko’s last fight against Australia’s Alex Leapai in April, and a scuffle broke out when Briggs approached Klitschko while he was eating in an Italian restaurant in Miami.

He even taunted Klitschko from a speedboat while the Ukrainian was stand-up paddle surfing in Florida.

“I really couldn’t care less what he does,” Klitschko said after Briggs’s latest stunt.

“I will just concentrate on the fight.” – Sapa-AFP

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