Robert Arum famed Bob Arum who is the owner of astute promotional syndicate Top Rank, who promotes both Pulev and Fury, has backed the former to earn a victory over current unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
When quizzed in an interview, the 88 years old lawyer said there will be no need for Joshua versus Fury because Pulev is going to beat Joshua.
“I don’t make plans so quick for a Fury-Joshua fight because I think Pulev is going to beat Joshua” He said.
“Let me explain my theory. Joshua got knocked out by Andy Ruiz, who is not a puncher, never been a puncher, and I know that because thirty odd fights that Ruiz had, we promoted.
“Then the second fight, what happened there? Joshua ran around the ring, Ruiz had celebrated so much and gotten so obese that he couldn’t catch him and that was the fight.
“So I think Joshua is still vulnerable and Pulev is a real tough, rugged heavyweight.”
A win for Pulev will be a heavy blow to the prospect of Fury taking on Joshua, and would be equally damaging for the earnings each fighter will make, which is expected to be lucrative. Arum, though, insists the all-British showdown would not be devalued.
“No because if Pulev beats Joshua, Eddie, for various considerations, has Pulev sign a rematch provision,” he said.
“So I assume if Pulev beats Joshua, Joshua will elect the rematch provision and that would make a second Joshua Pulev fight and so Tyson would have to look for another opponent.”
“He has quick hands, he’s not a bad heavyweight, but he’s not a puncher. He devastated Joshua and knocked him out.
People say crazy things in boxing. Fury is out of a contract, doesn’t have to fight Wilder. That contract is over. If after the Anthony Joshua fights, if they occur, Fury wants to give Wilder a fight, that’s okay.
“But again, who wants to deal with Wilder? A guy saying all of these things and then he follows up the next day saying that he also believes that somebody drugged his water and blames his trainer Mark Breland for doing it? I mean isn’t that preposterous?”
Arum has promoted the very best stars to grace boxing during his illustrious career including Muhammad Ali. The 88 year old believes that, while Ali is the superior boxer, Fury would have beaten him.
“I don’t know. Ali isn’t big enough to… I mean, we’re in an age where we have these humungously tall heavyweights who, like in Tyson Fury’s case, is a superb boxer. I mean, not Ali (level), but he’s a superb boxer.
“So everything has changed. If you ask me who was a better fighter – Ali or Tyson Fury – I would say Ali. But if you ask me if Ali could beat Tyson Fury, I would say no way.” The Jewish American promoter explained.
BY ANTHONY ARTHUR