Is Wladimir Klitschko under added pressure to perform tomorrow?

[yoz]

With HBO showing the bout, and a potential Stiverne/Wilder unification fight in the offing for 2015, is Wladimir Klitschko under additional pressure to perform against Pulev?

[Simurgh]

I think Wlad has some additional distractions going on in his life as well (getting a child).

This fight is intriguing to me. I know Pulev is good, but how good we don't know. Also I am interested to see what strategy Pulev will try to implement - hopefully not the same Povetkin tried.

Wlad will be looking to win first. That's the most important part, then if he can put something more exciting, but I doubt this one will be easy on eye.

[The Big Dunn]

Yes. If rumors are true and he is getting a deal from HBO, he can't have another performance like leapai or Haye where fans turned the channels en masse.

[Simurgh]

Yes. If rumors are true and he is getting a deal from HBO, he can't have another performance like leapai or Haye where fans turned the channels en masse.

In Leapai he preformed very well. Leapai was overmatched, but Wlad did some beautiful things in that fight - side movement one of them we don't see Wlad doing very often..

[dan_cov]

Wlad never performs against semi-decent opposition. It'll be the usual drawn out jab and clinch fest. I'm a Wlad fan but lets keep it real.

[The Big Dunn]

In Leapai he preformed very well. Leapai was overmatched, but Wlad did some beautiful things in that fight - side movement one of them we don't see Wlad doing very often..

the fight ******. viewers turned the channel quickly and didn't even hang on to see the KO. The Haye fight was a disgraceful performance that kept him off US tv for a while.

He has to fight in a way that makes US fans want to watch. Its not just about the KO. He has little personality and doesn't make you want to watch him. Since he will never exhibit the kind of personality that will make US fans gravitate toward him he must have an exciting performance.

Lucky for him he is the HWT champ. He has a great performance, everything else is forgotten.

[PainfromUkraine]

Compared to a standard title defence, with all the controversy behind the scenes with this fight, plus Wlad's age, and the cost of a possible defeat, yes.

But I think there's always a big pressure on you as the heavyweight champion, and Wlad's shown he can handle that pressure for the most part for this dominant reign, so I see that continuing here.

[Weltschmerz]

With HBO showing the bout, and a potential Stiverne/Wilder unification fight in the offing for 2015, is Wladimir Klitschko under additional pressure to perform against Pulev?

Could be, but he usually seems unaffected. Look at when Stewart passed, he handled Wach with no problems. Pulev is world class though, so it could get exciting. Pulev will come to fight, unlike other of his opponents.

[El-blanco]

Could be, but he usually seems unaffected. Look at when Stewart passed, he handled Wach with no problems. Pulev is world class though, so it could get exciting. Pulev will come to fight, unlike other of his opponents.

I've never seen pulev fight, is his power on par with his ko record?

[BKM-2010]

the fight ******. viewers turned the channel quickly and didn't even hang on to see the KO. The Haye fight was a disgraceful performance that kept him off US tv for a while.

He has to fight in a way that makes US fans want to watch. Its not just about the KO. He has little personality and doesn't make you want to watch him. Since he will never exhibit the kind of personality that will make US fans gravitate toward him he must have an exciting performance.

Lucky for him he is the HWT champ. He has a great performance, everything else is forgotten.

Actually I think Wladimir's personality outside the ring is infinitely more exciting to see than his actual fights. He's funny, charming and alpha and much like his fighting style he'll hug you if you approach him.