Anthony Joshua knocks out Kubrat Pulev - action as it happened

Summary

Anthony Joshua knocks out Kubrat Pulev in round nine of world title fight at Wembley Arena
Briton Joshua successfully defends IBF, WBA and WBO belts against Bulgarian
Lawrence Okolie KOs Nikodem Jeżewski in round two
Hughie Fury cut badly but beats Mariusz Wach on points

Live Reporting

Michael Emons and Craig Nelson

'British fight fans make the difference'published at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Daily Star boxing reporter Chris McKenna and boxing trainer Dave Coldwell are among those loving seeing and hearing fans back at a boxing event.
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Part of the teampublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Speaking of Dillian Whyte, he's part of our BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team later on from 22:00 GMT.
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Whyte predicts early Joshua KO winpublished at 20:39 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
BBC Radio 4
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Yes, this really was FIVE years ago
British heavyweight Dillian Whyte, who lost to Joshua exactly five years ago today, spoke to BBC Radio 4 earlier this week and said: "I think Joshua will do Pulev in the first six rounds.
"I expect it to start cagey. Pulev was a formidable guy about six years ago. In the last five years he's only had five fights, and he's fought no top-10 contenders. He doesn't show much ambition for someone who's challenging for a world title.
"I think the aggressive Anthony should turn up. You need to get him (Pulev) on the back foot and starting teeing off before he gets into a rhythm and starts boxing.
"Joshua will think: 'My last fight was a 12-round fight. I moved around a lot. In this fight, I can make a statement, and splat this guy.' And hopefully that's what he's going to do. Knockout in the first six rounds (to AJ)."
So is the champ...published at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Image source, Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
The challenger is in the building...published at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Image source, Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Kubrat Pulev holds court with the media at Wembley Arena ahead of his big night in the ring with Anthony Joshua.
The Bulgarian heavyweight has had to wait for his shot at the world title. The time for talk is almost over...
'Not the fight I want'published at 20:29 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Anthony Joshua had been scheduled to fight Kubrat Pulev on 20 June but the contest was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pulev, who is the IBF's mandatory challenger, has been waiting for a chance to face Joshua for almost three years after a shoulder injury forced him out of their planned world title bout in October 2017.
"I have to get it out of the way, it's a mandatory. Pulev is a tricky customer. He's not going to be an easy fight, it's a banana skin," said Joshua.
"I'm at a level now where I can't take easy fights or warm-up fights. I've got to roll with the punches. It's not the fight I want. I'd rather have a nice warm-up fight before because I've been out of the game for a year."
Live radio commentary from 22:00 GMTpublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
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get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
#bbcboxing or text 81111 (UK only, charges apply)
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So what do you think? Who is going to win? How will the fight pan out? How will the winner get on against Tyson Fury (presuming that happens)?
Also, if you're one of the 1,000 with a golden ticket at Wembley Arena, then we'd love to see some pictures.
Share your thoughts and predictions on Twitter using #bbcboxing, external or by sending a text to 81111 and we will post a selection on this page.
Golden ticketpublished at 20:20 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
We've spoken to one of the lucky fans who has bagged a ticket for tonight's action at Wembley Arena.
Media caption,
Joshua v Pulev: BBC Sport speaks to a lucky fan with a fight ticket
The scene is setpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
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Fans!published at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Tonight is going to be a welcome return for fans at a major boxing event as up to 1,000 spectators will watch world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's fight against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.
A limited number of fans can now attend live sport in England following a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to see fans returning to our live boxing events," said Eddie Hearn, managing director of Matchroom Sport. "While the team have done an incredible job over the last 10 months we live and breathe through the energy and atmosphere that a live crowd generates.
"It's so fitting that they can return for an AJ fight, when through the last few years he has broken all kinds of attendance records in the UK and beyond. This is such a positive move for boxing and all sport. Welcome back!"
Postpublished at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
And it is a special night for more than one reason...
Thanks for joining uspublished at 20:06 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Hello and welcome along to BBC Sport's coverage of a huge night of boxing as Anthony Joshua's IBO, WBA, IBF and WBO World heavyweight titles are up for grabs.
I'm Michael Emons and it is my pleasure to be talking you through all the action tonight. We will have live radio commentary as well from 22:00 GMT and it promises to be a dramatic evening.
An Anthony Joshua fight night is always a very special one indeed.
It's been a whilepublished at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2020
Cast your minds back to September 2018 when Anthony Joshua beat Alexander Povetkin at a packed Wembley Stadium to retain his world heavyweight titles.
Image source, Getty Images
Since then, Joshua's lost all his belts to Andy Ruiz in New York in one of the biggest shocks in heavyweight boxing...
Image source, Getty Images
...then Joshua regained all the gold by winning the rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Image source, Getty Images
Now, for the first time in more than two years, he will be back fighting in Britain. But it's no easy return in his only bout of 2020 as he has to fight tough mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.
Not only are all of Joshua's belts on the line, but a win tonight will surely set up a long-awaited bout with fellow Briton Tyson Fury to see who will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The stakes could not be higher.
Image source, Getty Images