11-26-2014, 09:15 PM
Kubrat Pulev: The loss was my mistake
By Ognian Georgiev / Bulgaria Today
Heavyweight Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (20-1, 11 KOs) returned to Bulgaria after his fifth round KO loss from Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs) in Hamburg on November 15. Few days after the defeat, the former title challenger spoke in front of national media. The briefing was broadcast live by two television networks and gathered more than 50 journalists. Here is what Pulev said on the most important topics:
On the loss:
The reason is probably the lack of experience. Now I earned much, which will be needed in the future. There were some speculations about my injuries and fractures. As you may see, there aren’t such on my face. Otherwise I must be Batman or Superman to recover so fast.
The conclusions of the fight will be made for a long time ahead. The first feeling is the most true one. I made a mistake because my defense wasn’t on the required level. I didn’t show what we trained for. A super fighter was against me. He is the number one in the division. I was well trained and it was tough for him.
My biggest fault was letting his left hook connect. It’s a hole in my game for many years. Wladimir strikes perfectly with the left hook. I knew he didn’t attack with many punches. He’s got three weapons – left jab, left-right and left hook. My left jab is better than his. I proved it in the first round when I stunned him. The clinches were trained for by me as you saw.
On the knockout:
I’ve never been knocked out in my life. I was thinking that my head is very hard and may sustain punches. Klitschko’s punches were sharp and precise. I had received stronger ones. As you see after the knockdowns, I stood up in a seconds. It’s proof that I can sustain some hard blows.
On the tactics:
My plan was to go forward. Maybe I could be more aggressive in the third and fourth round. I didn’t do that. They told me a few hours before the match that the ring will be smaller and softer. We tricked them, because we showed that I will fight more with my feet, but in fact we trained an aggressive game plan.
The respect for Klitschko:
The respect is very important. I congratulate Wladimir Klitschko, but he didn’t earn my respect after so many dirty tricks before the match. He beat me with some luck and with my mistake. But as they said the luck is with the stronger. Klitschko’s team pressed us. They used a thousand dirty tricks. It was a personal insult.
On the future:
Right now it’s time for some rest period. I’ve been an entire year on training camps and couldn’t give some attention to my relatives. We will see about the future.
On the doping allegations:
If I had beat him, the doping wouldn’t be a matter. Now I am sued by Klitschko. This is one of the things why I don’t respect him. I gave so many doping samples and was clean. Klitschko’s lawyer came to the training gym before the match. He told me that I couldn’t speak about doping. I am ready to go to court.
On the missed opportunity:
I am very mad. I knew I could win the fight. The mistake was mine. It’s like a chess game, when you gave as a gift some piece. Maybe this is the fate and the reason is to improve as a boxer. We continue forward. Klitschko couldn’t break me down. I know that I have bright future. Now I am stronger.
By Ognian Georgiev / Bulgaria Today
Heavyweight Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (20-1, 11 KOs) returned to Bulgaria after his fifth round KO loss from Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs) in Hamburg on November 15. Few days after the defeat, the former title challenger spoke in front of national media. The briefing was broadcast live by two television networks and gathered more than 50 journalists. Here is what Pulev said on the most important topics:
On the loss:
The reason is probably the lack of experience. Now I earned much, which will be needed in the future. There were some speculations about my injuries and fractures. As you may see, there aren’t such on my face. Otherwise I must be Batman or Superman to recover so fast.
The conclusions of the fight will be made for a long time ahead. The first feeling is the most true one. I made a mistake because my defense wasn’t on the required level. I didn’t show what we trained for. A super fighter was against me. He is the number one in the division. I was well trained and it was tough for him.
My biggest fault was letting his left hook connect. It’s a hole in my game for many years. Wladimir strikes perfectly with the left hook. I knew he didn’t attack with many punches. He’s got three weapons – left jab, left-right and left hook. My left jab is better than his. I proved it in the first round when I stunned him. The clinches were trained for by me as you saw.
On the knockout:
I’ve never been knocked out in my life. I was thinking that my head is very hard and may sustain punches. Klitschko’s punches were sharp and precise. I had received stronger ones. As you see after the knockdowns, I stood up in a seconds. It’s proof that I can sustain some hard blows.
On the tactics:
My plan was to go forward. Maybe I could be more aggressive in the third and fourth round. I didn’t do that. They told me a few hours before the match that the ring will be smaller and softer. We tricked them, because we showed that I will fight more with my feet, but in fact we trained an aggressive game plan.
The respect for Klitschko:
The respect is very important. I congratulate Wladimir Klitschko, but he didn’t earn my respect after so many dirty tricks before the match. He beat me with some luck and with my mistake. But as they said the luck is with the stronger. Klitschko’s team pressed us. They used a thousand dirty tricks. It was a personal insult.
On the future:
Right now it’s time for some rest period. I’ve been an entire year on training camps and couldn’t give some attention to my relatives. We will see about the future.
On the doping allegations:
If I had beat him, the doping wouldn’t be a matter. Now I am sued by Klitschko. This is one of the things why I don’t respect him. I gave so many doping samples and was clean. Klitschko’s lawyer came to the training gym before the match. He told me that I couldn’t speak about doping. I am ready to go to court.
On the missed opportunity:
I am very mad. I knew I could win the fight. The mistake was mine. It’s like a chess game, when you gave as a gift some piece. Maybe this is the fate and the reason is to improve as a boxer. We continue forward. Klitschko couldn’t break me down. I know that I have bright future. Now I am stronger.