Anthony Joshua must be licking his lips if the reaction of social media is anything to go by. The British heavyweight boxing champion will next face Kubrat Pulev after the Bulgarian defeated Hughie Fury in a forgettable final IBF world-title eliminator in Sofia.
There was little from the fight to suggest that either man in Sofia was capable of causing AJ problems as Fury, the younger cousin of the outspoken former world champion Tyson, was involved in a bout that rarely hit the heights, with the experienced and wily Pulev making the most of home advantage.
Pulev won by unanimous decision - 117-111, 118-110, 115-113 - that left viewers, shall we say, underwhelmed.
There was very little to choose between the pair during the early stages of the fight, although Pulev fired a seemingly crucial blow in the second round as he opened up a nasty cut above the left eye of his 24-year-old opponent thanks to a solid jab in the closing stages of the round.
It was a nasty cut and Fury kept on swinging as if he knew he was in trouble, with the wound refusing to close up. Fury was arguably the more aggressive of the two for a short time, before the fight moved into a familiar rhythm, with neither fighter willing to give too much away as they persistently held and grappled with one another.
It was a cagey encounter that only threatened to explode into life in the ninth round when Pulev put Fury in serious trouble, although the sparks were quickly nullified as both fighters continued to hold one another as if their lives depended on it.
Pulev had only ever lost one fight during an illustrious career - a knock-out defeat to Wladimir Klitschko - and the 37-year-old extended his record to 26-1, although he will next face a big step up in class from Saturday night when he meets Anthony Joshua.
It seems unlikely that Joshua will have been unduly worried by what he saw in Sofia. It's fair to say that Twitter users were unimpressed...
@GeorgeForeman would knock this pair out in 2 rounds .....because he’s nearly 70 and not fought for a while he’d need a round to get his range .....then goodnight #PulevFury #biggeorge proper heavyweight [@neilselman147]
This is how I had #PulevFury - Fury predictable, not nearly good enough. Pulev not spectacular, but never challenged. Will get KO'd if he faces Joshua. [@LxkeJxhns]
Joshua vs Pulev is not a fight anyone wants to see! Pulev has said before hat he doesn’t want the fight, he’s pulled out of the fight before and it’s not an interesting fight at all [@JuniorGrant0]
Let’s look at it this way, Anthony Joshua won’t be losing any sleep after that tonight #PulevFury [@DannyBoyFrost]
There’s no point in either of these fighting Joshua, especially not Hughie Fury. Embarrassing. [@Alsidair_draws]
Pulev would get destroyed by Joshua within 3 rounds #PulevFury [@MrJohnB28]
