Holy hell, Wlad's left hook!

[cupocity303]

Vlad is a very fragile fighter...he was wobbled badly in the first round with a jab.

He's been KO'd in his prime by mediocre fighters including a full time Golfer.

No, of course he wasn't in his prime. He is in his PRIME NOW. The fully developed Boxer that he is. But nice try.

[LA_2_Vegas]

There aren't many boxers out there period who can lead with a punch like that and not have a 'tell' before doing it.

[cupocity303]

How did Pulev put up a good show? He stood right in front of Wlad with his chin in the air, not moving his head a millimeter ever. He did nothing besides a couple jabs.

He stood tall to get the maximum out of his height and it actually worked. Wlad was in trouble in the first round but HE ADJUSTED.

He couldn't punch down at his opponent and he couldn't keep him at bay with his regular jabbing routine. So he was forced to jab to his midsection and he was also FORCED to start bouncing around on his feet because there was danger in being flat footed. Pulev had punches in his arsenal that could get to Wlad's chin.

So basically, all credit to Wlad. He found a punch that was getting in there and he stuck with it until the KO. It wasn't just another TKO where the guy is getting beat up and worn out.

[Weltschmerz]

That left hook is so deceptive... looks like another jab, comes sneaking around Pulevs guard, snaps him.. down he goes. I actually thought Pulev has a strong chin, but usually fighters suffer from getting hurt early as he did, he didn't recover from those other couple early knockdowns. But yes Pulev did well but has a very shaky defense. Good win for Vlad, and a KO for the Americans!

[PainfromUkraine]

Are we still led to believe that Wlad is on the decline? Doesn't seem that way to me...considering some of his last wins have been probably some of the best scalps of his career.

[////]

How did Pulev put up a good show? He stood right in front of Wlad with his chin in the air, not moving his head a millimeter ever. He did nothing besides a couple jabs.

In some prevalent eastern Euro styles, range control and keeping weapons at the ready are higher priorities than constant head movement (see: Kovalev vs Hopkins), especially when the fighters are 6'6" and 6'4" and "slipping punches" becomes geometrically unlikely.

Smaller guys like Lomachenko fight more "western".

You need to familiarize yourself with the different styles of boxing before offering expert criticism to a fighter like Pulev.

[LacedUp]

How did Pulev put up a good show? He stood right in front of Wlad with his chin in the air, not moving his head a millimeter ever. He did nothing besides a couple jabs.

Well the couple of jabs he did land, and a few right hands is more than 90% of all other Wlad opponents do. He also had the balls to hit Wlad when he was clinching which I liked.

And you were the one whining about Vlad never doing anything but throwing the 1-2, oh the irony

I know, I was thinking about that myself

Glad to be proved wrong though.

[PainfromUkraine]

That left hook is so deceptive... looks like another jab, comes sneaking around Pulevs guard, snaps him.. down he goes. I actually thought Pulev has a strong chin, but usually fighters suffer from getting hurt early as he did, he didn't recover from those other couple early knockdowns. But yes Pulev did well but has a very shaky defense. Good win for Vlad, and a KO for the Americans!

Pulev doesn't have a particularly good chin. People laughed when I mentioned the Abell knockdown. What Pulev has is a great ability to recover quickly. Although of course no one is recovering from that knockout left hook!

[pesticid]

He stood tall to get the maximum out of his height and it actually worked. Wlad was in trouble in the first round but HE ADJUSTED.

He couldn't punch down at his opponent and he couldn't keep him at bay with his regular jabbing routine. So he was forced to jab to his midsection and he was also FORCED to start bouncing around on his feet because there was danger in being flat footed. Pulev had punches in his arsenal that could get to Wlad's chin.

So basically, all credit to Wlad. He found a punch that was getting in there and he stuck with it until the KO. It wasn't just another TKO where the guy is getting beat up and worn out.

Great post, that's exactly what happened. I think Pulev froze as he fought like a toughman unlike how he usually fights but Wlad didn't have success with his vaunted jab and credit to him he started bouncing in and out and lunging with shots. That left hook was a thing of beauty. Wlad looked low dropped his hand low for a second and came up. Pulev fell for it as he bent low and dropped his right hand anticipating a jab to the body only for Wlad to lift it up and turn it around. This is knockout of the year without a doubt. You gotta go back to Joe Frazier and find lunging left hook knockouts like this or RJJ at lightheavy in his prime.

[pesticid]

Pulev doesn't have a particularly good chin. People laughed when I mentioned the Abell knockdown. What Pulev has is a great ability to recover quickly. Although of course no one is recovering from that knockout left hook!

I don;t think even Chuvalo could've taken these lunging shots. Pulev's came to fight and he looked horrible but I think that's due to Wlad and I think this is a way better victory than the Povetkin fiasco cause I think Wlad got the worst off the clinches.