12/12 DAZN: Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev (WBA/WBO/IBF Heavyweight Titles)
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Lawrence Okolie will contest the vacant WBO cruiserweight world title against Krzysztof Glowacki on the Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev undercard.
The fight will take place on Saturday December 12 at the O2 Arena in London, as Joshua defends his title against the IBF mandatory challenger.
Okolie (14-0, 11 KOs) is the current EBU European cruiserweight champion after beating Yves Ngabu last October, the last of his four fights in 2019 which each were won by knockout.
Polish fighter Glowacki (31-2, 19 KOs) won the WBO world title in 2015 when he knocked out Germany’s Marco Huck, but lost his title to Oleksandr Usyk, who has since moved up to the heavyweight division. He then won the WBO interim championship in November 2018 but fell to Mairis Breidis in 2019.
“It has been a long and hard road to get here,” said Okolie.
“I’m very excited and blessed to have this opportunity; I’ll be grabbing it with both hands. I will become Britain’s next world champion on December 12.
“Glowacki is a great fighter and he is someone that I looked up to when I first started boxing. I believe he won the world title the same year I was pushing to try and get on the Olympic team when I’d had 15 amateur fights.
“He’s a former two-time world champion and has only lost twice to two elite opponents. He’s going to be my biggest test on paper as a professional. He is a consummate professional and will do everything in his power to win.”
“I will retrieve my belt and I will bring it back to Poland,” said Glowacki.
“I will become WBO world champion for the third time in my career, there is no other option. I am prepared for a hard battle because Lawrence Okolie is big, strong and awkward, but the belt is mine and I will bring it back home.”
"In just 14 fights Lawrence Okolie has done it all and now it’s the moment of truth," said promoter Eddie Hearn of his boxer.
"Britain has the chance to crown another world champion but Lawrence has it all to do against a great fighter and former world champ in Krysztof Glowacki and someone who has mixed consistently at the top level. This is going to be a huge night and a huge moment for Lawrence — we can’t wait."
Fury vs. Wach, Bakole vs. Kuzmin Added To Joshua-Pulev Card
By Random Hits
Published On Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:08 AM EST
Two exciting Heavyweight matchups have been added to the undercard of Anthony Joshua's Unified World Title defence against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday December 12, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Hughie Fury (24-3, 14 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since his three-round destruction of Pavel Sour at Manchester Arena back in March to take on Poland’s Mariusz Wach (36-6, 19 KOs), a former opponent of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte.
"I’m very excited to be back in action again on December 12," said Fury. "It’s been a while and I’m ready to show what I’m all about. I’ve been in the gym working on a lot of different aspects of my game, perfecting what I needed to do.
"Mariusz Wach is a good fighter who’s been in with many top tier fighters including a World Title challenge. He brings power and size, and you can’t switch off for a second. I want these kind of fights as these fights will help me achieve what I need. I’m expecting a tough fight with Wach."
Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin fight for the vacant WBC International Heavyweight Title after their proposed fight earlier in the year was rescheduled. Both men share respective 15-1 records and will be looking to gatecrash the world rankings.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting for the WBC International Title on such a big night of boxing, said Bakole. "A victory over Kuzmin is another step to making my dreams come true."
“This fight with Bakole is very important for me, I need to bounce back from my defeat to Michael Hunter last time and get back on track towards a World Title," revealed Kuzmin. "Martin is big, tall and comes forward, we know his strengths. I come only to win on December 12.”
AJ better dominate him and beat his ass.
Am looking forward to Bakole vs Kuzmin on the undercard. That’s a good fight.
i just hope okolie shows up and shows out against glowacki and becomes champion
BlackDiBiase
Superstar
wow, its been great few weeks of boxing for me. the joyce and dubois fight was great cant wait till the AJ and Pulev. i know fury wont be fighting this year ... and i just SMH at deontay wilder need to see some old threads see what was posted. 
Conscious Pilot
Do Better.
Let’s go AJ.
Joshua-Pulev Heavyweight Title Fight To Take Place With Fans In Attendance
By Jake Donovan
Published On Wed Dec 2, 2020, 10:06 AM EST
The awaited ring return of Anthony Joshua will take place in front of a live audience.
Authorities in the United Kingdom have granted clearance for up to 1,000 fans to attend the December 12 show at Wembley's SSE Arena, headlined by Joshua's unified heavyweight title defense versus mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. An announcement made on Wednesday by event promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed the good news of the sport's largest live draw not having to fight behind closed doors.
"I can’t tell you how happy I am to see fans returning to our live boxing events," said Eddie Hearn, Joshua's career-long promoter. "Whilst the team have done an incredible job over the last 10 months we live and breathe through the energy and atmosphere that a live crowd generates.
"It’s so fitting that they can return for an AJ fight, when through the last few years he has broken all kinds of attendance records in the U.K. and beyond. This is such a positive move for boxing and all sport. Welcome back!"
The announcement marks the first boxing event in England to take place with fans in attendance since the initial wave of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in March.
The crowd on hand will be a pittance compared to the size of events which Joshua (23-1, 21KOs) has headlined throughout his already illustrious career. The hulking Brit has served as a huge draw since coming out of the 2012 London Olympics where he captured a Gold medal for hosting Great Britain. His first career title fight—a 2nd round wipeout of unbeaten Charles Martin in April 2016—sold out within minutes, as was the case for subsequent knockout wins over Dominic Breazeale and Eric Molina in separate title defenses to round out the year.
Joshua's legend began to grow beginning with his off-the-canvas, 11th round knockout of former lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, which came in front of a record-breaking crowd of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium. The bout marked a four-fight stretch where Joshua's fights amassed more than 320,000 fans in attendance before taking his act stateside.
A packed house came of the night at Madison Square Garden, albeit in a shocking 7th round knockout defeat to Andy Ruiz last June. Joshua righted the ship in their rematch, claiming a decisive 12-round win to regain his slew of alphabet belts last December in a makeshift outdoor stadium in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua's mandatory title defense versus Bulgaria's Pulev (28-1, 14KOs) was due to take place June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a North London stadium which can accommodate more than 62,000 in attendance. Those plans were shut down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the sport as a whole returning but largely with only essential personnel permitted on site.
That changes next Saturday, much to the delight of the hosting venue.
“The SSE Arena, Wembley is delighted to have our customers back for its reopening event, and it does not get any better than the return of fans to see Anthony Joshua in action," notes John Drury, vice president and general manager of The SSE Arena, Wembley. “The SSE Arena, Wembley will open its doors with best-in-class procedures from ASM Global’s VenueShield programme. VenueShield is a comprehensive, industry-leading programme deployed at more than 325 ASM Global facilities around the world, providing the highest levels of enhanced cleanliness and safety.
“As a response to the coronavirus pandemic, ASM Global has partnered with medical professionals, industry leaders, and public health officials to create a welcoming, secure environment while providing the most advanced hygienic safeguards for anyone visiting the building. We are following all government and local authority health guidelines in order to reopen, and look forward to bringing fans and events back in a Covid-secure way.”
With the permitted crowd also comes conditions which will be strictly adhered to in terms of ticket purchases and fight night protocol:
According to the release, tickets will be priced at £100, £200, £300, £500 and £1,000 (VIP). Tickets will be available to purchase via AXS (www.axs.com) and StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) on Friday December 4 at 10.00am.
- The lead booker can only attend with members of their own household (ID including address will be required on entry).
- Matchroom Boxing are participating in the NHS Test and Trace scheme. Lead booker details will be collected and shared for this in line with legal guidelines, and NHS Track & Trace check-in codes will be in place for fans to scan at entrances.
- You must not attend an event if you have tested positive for Covid-19, are required to self-isolate or have suffered from Covid-19 symptoms within 14 days of the event.
- You must wear a face covering at all times during your visit to The SSE Arena, Wembley (if you’re medically able to do so and aged 11+). They can be safely removed when you’re seated to eat or drink.
- Tickets must not be resold.
- No refund policy
The event also featured a vacant cruiserweight title fight between 2016 Great Britain Olympian and unbeaten contender Lawrence Okolie (14-0, 10KOs) and Poland's former two-time titlist Krzysztof Glowacki (31-2, 19KOs).
Iceson Beckford
Rich In Spirit.
Put my money on AJ 
Okolie In Search Of New Cruiserweight Title Fight Foe With Glowacki Out
By Jake Donovan
Published On Thu Dec 3, 2020, 05:20 PM EST
Lawrence Okolie has spent the past year eagerly anticipating his first career title fight.
That opportunity will likely remain in play, just not against the opponent for which he’s mentally and physically prepared during that entire time.
The hunt is on for a replacement foe to challenge Okolie for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title, as former two-time titlist Krzystof Glowacki (31-2, 19KOs) was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of their planned December 12 clash at SSE Arena, Wembley.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, Okolie’s career-long promoter revealed the news on Thursday along with the insistence that a new opponent would be announced in due time. BoxingScene.com has learned that the matter is currently under review with the WBO, to determine the eligibility of the ultimately selected replacement foe.
"The search is on," Hearn said on Twitter. "Any top 10 cruiserweights slide into my DMs [direct messages]."
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The rest of the show remains intact, including the evening’s main event. Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since gaining his slew of heavyweight titles, as he defends against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14KOs). The event will take place in front of up to 1,000 spectators in attendance, all required to adhere to strict social distancing and health measures.
The test result was devastating to Glowacki for obvious health reason, though more so given his journey to this point.
Poland’s Glowacki had to twice appeal the outcome of his last fight—a controversial 3rd round knockout loss to Mairis Briedis in the semifinal round of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) last June in Riga, Latvia—in order to secure the opportunity to fight for his old title. The matter was finally resolved last November, with Briedis ordered to enter a rematch with Glowacki or else vacate his WBO title.
Briedis chose the latter in order to proceed with his WBSS finale versus Yuniel Dorticos, with their bout thrice postponed before finally taking place this past September. Briedis claimed a 12-round decision and top honors in the tournament, along with recognition as the lineal cruiserweight king.
Meanwhile, the vacant title was ordered to be filled with a showdown between Glowacki and Hackney’s Okolie (14-0, 11KOs) as per a ruling during the WBO’s annual convention last December in Tokyo. The two sides agreed to terms, though securing a fight date proved problematic even before the coronavirus pandemic. Among the causes was trying to find a home for a bout with which it was to be paired: Gennadiy Golovkin (40-1-1, 35KOs) in a mandatory middleweight title defense versus Kamil Szeremeta (21-0, 5KOs), Glowacki’s stablemate.
That fight will now take place December 18 in Hollywood, Florida, though with Szeremeta now without the services of Fiodor Lapin whom also tested positive for COVID-19 and can no longer make the trip.
None of it proved to be worth the wait for Glowacki, as the Polish southpaw will enter 2021 with an extensive inactive streak and now having to watch someone else fight for the title he’s held on two separate occasions.
Okolie—who represented Great Britain in the 2016 Rio Olympics—earned his place at the table following a 7th round stoppage of Yves Ngabu in their battle of unbeaten cruiserweights last October at The O2 in Greenwich, London.
As per WBO rules and regulations, protocol calls for the next available highest-ranked contender to get priority on filling such a void.
BoxingScene.com has learned that Dilan Praspvic (14-0, 11KOs) is out of the running, as the unbeaten contender from Montenegro cannot make the cruiserweight limit nearly in time for such a fight. Representatives for at least three other cruiserweights have reached out to BoxingScene.com insisting they have been offered the fight, though such details were not confirmed with Matchroom Boxing as this goes to publish.
Krzysztof Glowacki has covid, FIGHT CANCELLED.
Hearn is looking for a replacement, top 10 contender!
Hearn is looking for a replacement, top 10 contender!
9 rounds...