Derek Chisora Have Victory Keys To Win Over Kubrat Pulev
FightersTalkTV.com – Two veteran warriors will go head to head again, six years after their first meeting. Derek Chisora (29-2, 14 KOs) and Kubrat Pulev (32-12, 23 KOs) will renew hostilities in a heavyweight battle at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night. Pulev claimed a split decision victory over Chisora in Hamburg in May 2016 and secured the EBU heavyweight title en route to an eventual world title shot. “The Cobra” unleashed a jab fest and rode his weapon of choice to a split-decision victory. Although one judge inexplicably saw it for Chisora, it was pretty clear that Pulev should have comfortably won via a lopsided unanimous decision. Anyhow, with that bout being for the European heavyweight title, this re-up will be for pure guts and pride. And they are ready for their rematch. Pulev, 41, was fighting for world titles as recently as December 2020, as he fought Anthony Joshua for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. This was just the second defeat out of 29 fights in his career, with the first coming against Wladimir Klitschko back in 2014. Chisora, meanwhile, who turns 39 in December, has fought no fewer than 13 times since then, defying expectations over a potential retirement. He is coming off the back of three straight defeats, dropping a pair of decisions against New Zealander Joseph Parker having previously been bested by now-unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. Derek Chisora and Kurbat Pulev will go head-to-head once again on Saturday night. This unexpected rematch is being billed as ‘Total Carnage’, with the duo having to be separated at their last pre-fight press conference after a heated final face-off turned into something of a wrestling bout. It was because Chisora managed to provoke Pulev’s emotions, and it can be the keys to get his victory. Agression Immediately Chisora laid down the gauntlet during the fight’s press conference earlier in the week: “Let’s f***ing go for it.” If that’s not an invitation to a fire fight, nothing else will be. But if Chisora truly wants to get Pulev off his back foot and away from picking him apart with the jab, he’s got to bring the “War” to the Bulgarian. And the only way to do that is to sully up the fight immediately with raw aggression. That aggression may prove to make Chisora vulnerable at times, but if he truly wants to go for it as touted, he must unleash forward-moving force on Pulev without taking a step back. Get Inside of Pulev’s Reach Pulev vs Chisora in their first match, May 2016. Standing six-foot-two to Pulev’s six-foot-four, Chisora has to work to get inside of the Bulgarian’s six-inch reach advantage. Getting inside early will go long ways toward negating the same jab that Pulev employed and rode to victory over six years ago in their initial fight. Obviously, that’s going to be an easier said than done task for “War” Chisora, but the British boxer has to force cramped quarters by any means — even resorting to clinching early if need be. Uppercut In The Clinch It shouldn’t take too many rounds for Chisora to gauge his comfortability and difficulty in getting inside on Pulev. Well, once he’s locked in the clinched phonebooth with “The Cobra,” Chisora should look to unload a compact uppercut to damage the taller foe. Anthony Joshua found success with the weapon against Pulev in victory nearly two years ago. Chisora might find paydirt with the same shot. Adding to that thinking is Pulev being 41 and possibly a step slower. When Pulev is looking to jab his way out of the clinch to reassert space, it might be the perfect timing for Chisora to blast him with a counter uppercut right up the middle. We will see if Chisora manages to maximize the keys he has to victory, considering he is not as young as six years ago. You can watch the boxing videos on our YouTube channel! >>>
