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By James Slater: Tonight in Offenburg, Germany, unbeaten heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev pounded out an easy-looking, one-sided 10th-round TKO over a reluctant Michael Sprott. Winning every round with basically his left jab and his thudding right hand to the head, 30-year-old Pulev saw Sprott pulled out by his corner after the end of the 9th-round.
Now 15-0(7), “The Cobra” from Bulgaria won as he pleased tonight. 36-year-old Sprott, now loser of his last three, falls to 36-18(17).
The 1st-round saw a slow start by both men, although Pulev did suffer a small cut at the side of his left eye; possibly the result of an accidental head clash. Sprott had a high, tight guard as he chugged forward. There was a decent burst by the visiting fighter in the closing seconds. As it turned out, this was Sprott’s best round of the night. An even round could have been argued.
There were lots of crisp left jabs from Pulev from the 2nd-round on. Sprott was content to cover up and not do too much else. The experienced Brit did briefly spring to life in the last few seconds of the round.
From the 3rd-round on the fight had the look of a sparring session. Pulev threw stiff lefts and rights upstairs, Sprott remained in his shell. This pattern remained until the corner retirement of Sprott, with Pulev stepping up the pace in the 6th. Sprott resorted to showboating and clowning in the 6th, his own work-rate nonexistent. Referee Earl Morton warned Sprott for his clowning and for holding onto the ropes.
Pulev showed more lovely left jabs in the 7th, with a powerful right hand behind them. Sprott was under a fair amount of pressure in this session, yet he hung on. The fight was as good as over by the 8th, and a less polite crowd would no doubt have booed. The 9th was a slow round, and then the ending came - much to the relief of Sprott fans.
How good is Pulev? We were given no real answers tonight. But Pulev did beat a seasoned, tough man with ease and at no point did the 30-year-old former amateur star look tired or in any way troubled. Sprott may not have “showed up” tonight, but that wasn’t Pulev’s fault. There will surely be tougher fights for “The Cobra” in the future, though.
Now 15-0(7), “The Cobra” from Bulgaria won as he pleased tonight. 36-year-old Sprott, now loser of his last three, falls to 36-18(17).
The 1st-round saw a slow start by both men, although Pulev did suffer a small cut at the side of his left eye; possibly the result of an accidental head clash. Sprott had a high, tight guard as he chugged forward. There was a decent burst by the visiting fighter in the closing seconds. As it turned out, this was Sprott’s best round of the night. An even round could have been argued.
There were lots of crisp left jabs from Pulev from the 2nd-round on. Sprott was content to cover up and not do too much else. The experienced Brit did briefly spring to life in the last few seconds of the round.
From the 3rd-round on the fight had the look of a sparring session. Pulev threw stiff lefts and rights upstairs, Sprott remained in his shell. This pattern remained until the corner retirement of Sprott, with Pulev stepping up the pace in the 6th. Sprott resorted to showboating and clowning in the 6th, his own work-rate nonexistent. Referee Earl Morton warned Sprott for his clowning and for holding onto the ropes.
Pulev showed more lovely left jabs in the 7th, with a powerful right hand behind them. Sprott was under a fair amount of pressure in this session, yet he hung on. The fight was as good as over by the 8th, and a less polite crowd would no doubt have booed. The 9th was a slow round, and then the ending came - much to the relief of Sprott fans.
How good is Pulev? We were given no real answers tonight. But Pulev did beat a seasoned, tough man with ease and at no point did the 30-year-old former amateur star look tired or in any way troubled. Sprott may not have “showed up” tonight, but that wasn’t Pulev’s fault. There will surely be tougher fights for “The Cobra” in the future, though.