Kubrat Pulev

Kubrat Pulev Кубрат Пулев
File:Kubrat Pulev Smiling.jpg Pulev in 2012
Statistics
Real name	Kubrat Venkov Pulev
Nickname(s)	Кобрата (The Cobra)
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Reach	203 cm (80 in)
Nationality	Bulgarian
Born	(1981-05-04) 4 May 1981 Sofia, Bulgaria
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	24
Wins	23
Wins by KO	12
Losses	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing Bulgaria World Championships 2005 Mianyang Super-heavyweight European Championships 2008 Liverpool Super-heavyweight 2006 Plovdiv Super-heavyweight EU Championships 2004 Madrid Heavyweight 2005 Cagliari Super-heavyweight

Kubrat Venkov Pulev (Bulgarian: Кубрат Венков Пулев; born 4 May 1981) is a Bulgarian professional boxer. He is the current European heavyweight champion, in his second reign, and a former world title challenger. As an amateur he won multiple medals at international tournaments, including gold in the super-heavyweight division at the 2008 European Championships.

Amateur career

Heavyweight with 201lbs/ 91kg limit

In February 2002, Pulev won the Strandja Cup, the oldest international boxing tournament in Europe, in his native Bulgaria. Pulev, who is nicknamed "The Cobra", beat Cuban world champion Odlanier Solís in the process. One month later, he lost a rematch to the Cuban at the Semifinal of the "Chemiepokal cup". He could not participate at the Euros 2002 in Perm after breaking his arm in sparring.

At the World Championships 2003, he lost again in the first round to Odlanier Solís 7:12.

At the European boxing championships 2004 in Pula he defeated world class Alexander Povernov (World Championships Bronze medalist 2005). Pulev did not qualify for the Olympics despite the fact that he won the last qualifying tournament in Gothenburg. He had to settle for the first reserve place because the heavyweight division consists of only 16 fighters participating in the Olympic Games (other weight divisions have 48–81).

Super Heavyweight

He beat Islam Timurziev at super heavyweight at the Strandja Cup 2005. At the EU Championships he lost the final 18:24 to Italian southpaw Roberto Cammarelle. At the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships he won bronze, losing for the third time to Odlanier Solís 11:25.

In 2006, at the Chemiepokal he beat Vyacheslav Glazkov and Magomed Abdusalamov. He finished at third place at the European Championships in Plovdiv. After defeating Glazkov again he was easily beaten (RSCO) by former victim and eventual winner, Islam Timurziev of Russia.

In 2007. he won the Chemiepokal tournament and was regarded as one of the favorites at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships, but had a bad draw and lost early to southpaw Olympic bronze medalist and eventual winner Roberto Cammarelle.

In 2008, he won the Strandja Cup once again beating PanAm Champion Robert Alfonso 19:9.

He beat Jaroslavas Jakšto and Marko Tomasović to qualify for the Olympics 2008. There he was upset in his first bout by young Colombian Óscar Rivas.

In absence of Roberto Cammarelle, he beat Marko Tomasović, Roman Kapitonenko and Denis Sergeev to claim the European Championship.

At the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships he lost again to Roberto Cammarelle.

Professional career

On 5 May 2012, Pulev won the then-vacant EBU European Heavyweight Championship via an eleventh round knockout of Alexander Dimitrenko.

On 29 September 2012, Pulev knocked out previously-undefeated Alexander Ustinov, who went down in the eleventh round of an International Boxing Federation (IBF) "eliminator" (match) to determine a new #1-ranked challenger for the IBF World Heavyweight Championship.

By early-June 2013, the IBF had finally updated its heavyweight division rankings, making Pulev the official #1 contender for its heavyweight title.

In August 2013, Pulev fought Tony Thompson in an additional and final title-shot eliminator in Germany, winning by unanimous decision.

On 14 December 2013, Pulev defeated American Joey Abell in the fifth round by knockdown, remaining undefeated as a professional fighter. On November 15, 2014, Pulev finally got his title-shot, challenging then-IBF (as well as WBA, WBO, and IBO) World Heavyweight Champion, Wladimir Klitschko at O2 World, Hamburg, Germany. Despite making a spirited effort, Pulev suffered three knockdowns en route to being knocked out in round five by a devastating Klitschko left hook. Afterward, Pulev stated: "Wladimir is a really good opponent, but he was lucky. I want a rematch".

On 7 May 2016, Pulev faced fellow former European champion and world title challenger Dereck Chisora, in an IBF title eliminator for the vacant European heavyweight title at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg. Despite what had seemed a fairly comfortable points win for Pulev the fight ended in a split decision, with two judges scoring it 118-110 and 116-112 in Pulev's favour while the third scored it 115-113 for Chisora. The victory put Pulev a step closer to a world title shot against IBF champion Anthony Joshua.

Miscellaneous

Pulev has turned down lucrative financial offers to represent Germany, viewing it as a matter of principle not to change his national allegiance.

Professional boxing record

24 fights, 23 wins (12 knockouts), ,1 loss
No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
24	Win	23–1	Dereck Chisora	SD	12	07 May 2016	Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg	Won vacant European Heavyweight title.
23	Win	22–1	Maurice Harris	KO	1 (8), 1:59	05 Dec 2015	Inselparkhalle, Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg
22	Win	21–1	George Arias	UD	8	17 Oct 2015	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
21	Loss	20–1	Wladimir Klitschko	KO	5 (12) 2:11	15 Nov 2014	O2 World, Altona, Hamburg	For WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO & The Ring Heavyweight titles.
20	Win	20–0	Ivica Perkovic	RTD	3 (8), 3:00	05 Apr 2014	Stadthalle, Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
19	Win	19–0	Joey Abell	RTD	4 (12), 3:00	14 Dec 2013	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Retained IBF International Heavyweight title.
18	Win	18–0	Tony Thompson	UD	12	24 Aug 2013	Sport Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Retained IBF International Heavyweight title.
17	Win	17–0	Alexander Ustinov	KO	11 (12), 1:28	29 Sep 2012	Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg	Retained IBF International & European Heavyweight titles.
16	Win	16–0	Alexander Dimitrenko	KO	11 (12), 2:59	05 May 2012	Messehalle, Erfurt, Thuringia	Retained IBF International Heavyweight title. Won vacant European Heavyweight title.
15	Win	15–0	Michael Sprott	RTD	9 (12), 3:00	14 Jan 2012	Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg	Retained IBF International Heavyweight title.
14	Win	14–0	Travis Walker	UD	12	22 Oct 2012	Arena Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg	Won vacant IBF International Heavyweight title.
13	Win	13–0	Maksym Pediura	UD	8	16 Jul 2011	Olympia Eishalle, Munich, Bayern
12	Win	12–0	Derric Rossy	TKO	5 (8), 2:15	07 May 2011	Koncerthuset, Copenhagen
11	Win	11–0	Yaroslav Zavorotnyi	UD	8	12 Feb 2011	Messecenter Herning, Herning
10	Win	10–0	Paolo Vidoz	UD	8	18 Dec 2010	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
9	Win	9–0	Dominick Guinn	UD	8	30 Oct 2010	Stadthalle, Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
8	Win	8–0	Evgeny Orlov	DQ	7 (8), 0:16	01 May 2010	Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen
7	Win	7–0	Danny Batchelder	TKO	2 (8), 0:45	13 Mar 2010	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
6	Win	6–0	Isossa Mondo	RTD	3 (8), 3:00	20 Feb 2010	Salle De La Préhalle, Herstal, Liège
5	Win	5–0	Matt Skelton	KO	4 (8), 2:14	30 Jan 2010	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
4	Win	4–0	Zack Page	UD	6	05 Dec 2009	Arena Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg
3	Win	3–0	Gbenga Oloukun	UD	6	07 Nov 2009	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Bayern
2	Win	2–0	Serdar Uysal	TKO	4 (4), 0:56	17 Oct 2009	O2 World Arena, Kreuzberg, Berlin
1	Win	1–0	Florian Benche	TKO	2 (4), 2:05	19 Sep 2009	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Professional debut.

External links

• Official website
• Official Facebook Profile
• Professional boxing record for Kubrat Pulev from BoxRec