There were no surprises when British boxer Anthony Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev (Bulgaria) early on the morning of December 13 to defend four heavyweight belts: WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO.

The knockout victory over Pulev was an eloquent challenge from Anthony Joshua (right) to Tyson Fury – Photo: Reuters

But this victory has an even greater meaning, as it is Anthony Joshua’s strong declaration of war for his compatriot Tyson Fury – who holds the WBC title.

That’s because looking at Pulev’s “no blows” way, people can feel a mature and strong Joshua.

At the age of 31, he showed composure and calculation in front of his opponents. Even though Pulev is 39 years old and is not highly rated, Anthony Joshua still entered the game cautiously.

In the first two rounds, he used highly accurate strikes to score points, instead of trying to throw dangerous punches that made his opponent stagger.

Perhaps he also understands that haste can cost him a sudden knockout from his opponent, which happened when he lost to a lower-rated boxer, Andy Ruiz, last June in the United States. .

Thanks to that, in the third half, the situation changed almost completely. Still holding the initiative, but this time Joshua struck harder and more fiercely. Kubrat Pulev resisted in vain and had to go to the floor in this round.

That was the turning point of the match at Wembley Arena on the morning of December 13. Because after that punch that sent Pulev to the floor, Joshua rushed forward and knocked out his opponent in round 9.

This victory opens the door for a historic match between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury for the position of “absolute champion” of the heavyweight division (holding four WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts at the same time).

“Since entering professional boxing, I have always wanted to pursue championship belts. I want challenges. It is not a story about opponents, but about legacy and belts. No matter who holds the belt, I want to fight them. If it’s Tyson Fury, let me fight him,” Joshua said after his victory over Kubrat Pulev.

Anthony Joshua’s manager, Eddie Hearn, made even more blunt statements. Hearn said: “We know what we need to do. From tomorrow, we will make the fight with Tyson Fury come true. It will be the biggest fight in boxing history. I know Joshua wants that. He is the best heavyweight in the world.”

Tyson Fury himself did not hesitate, immediately posting a challenge to Joshua on Twitter.

If the Tyson Fury – Anthony Joshua match comes true, and one of the two fighters wins, fans will witness the first “absolute champion” of the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis in 1999.