Joshua vs Pulev Betting  Guide

Anthony Joshua fights are always going to be popular and highly anticipated. Joshua is going to return to the ring and take on the might of Kubrat Pulev and top betting sites have already got their fingers in the pie with their odds already set – and a number of free bets and promotions to use on the fight. Read our Joshua v Pulev betting guide for all you need to know.

A Heavyweight Match

Joshua is currently one of the best fighters in the UK and wants to prove himself as being THE best. He’s back in the ring and has much to prove. Last year was a very interesting year for Joshua and one that will stick in memories forever. Going into 2019 he was unbeaten in 22 fights – with 21 not even going the distance. He gathered up World Championship belts on the way. This was the year he was to try and conquer the US. This was where the drama started.

After his first opponent, Jarrell Miller, dropped out, he was replaced quickly with Ruiz Jr. And that was one of the biggest shock results in boxing history. However, the rematch followed quickly, and Joshua made sure of no more errors – outclassing the Mexican to take back his belts. Although he wants to take on Fury, he’ll have to queue up behind Deontay Wilder for that privilege. For now, he’s facing Pulev and this will be an exciting fight. As we have seen before with Joshua… shocks can always happen and prepare to expect the unexpected. If you are prepared to bet on a risk, then it could be a decent payback. However, if you want to bet on the favourite, then you need to find the best odds to get the best value bet.

Where and When

So, when does the big fight take place? Well, currently (positive tests aside) the fight is scheduled to take place at the O2, in London, on 12^th December 2020. The undercards will start from early on in the evening, but the Joshua v Pulev time is expected to be between 22.00 and 23.00 GMT, so not too late, unlike the Tyson v Jones Jr match up! This will definitely be a Saturday night to remember.

As with most big fights, it will be a Pay Per View event and is expected to cost in the region of £24.99 – on par with the Ruiz Jr fight. However, another option, which kills two birds with one stone, is placing a bet on one of the top boxing live streaming sites and watching it live as it happens. You only have to pay for your bet – and there’s a chance that you could get your money, and a lot more besides, back!

The Top 5 Sites to Bet on Joshua v Pulev

Many of the top sites out there will have all sorts of markets available for the fight, but not all will offer the same features and value, so we have looked through the best boxing betting sites for those that will not only offer plenty of markets but also the best value odds, promos and offers as well as in-play betting, live streaming and features such as bet builder, cash out and more. So, you can enjoy your bet knowing that you are getting the best value.

Betting on the Big Fight

This is yet another fight that was originally scheduled for earlier in the year before a certain health pandemic put the scuppers on things. Originally, it was due to be fought in June 2020, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but it now gives fans something to look forward to at the end of a very strange year. But what will happen when they finally face off? Joshua is the clear and absolute favourite going into it, and betting sites already see it as a foregone conclusion, with all having the odds stacked way in his favour. Another big shocker could cost betting sites big.

Many sites have now released odds for the overall winner of the fight, and they all agree. The only difference is how much you have to bet to get any kind of return at all. If you put a cheeky bet on Pulev, you could be laughing! They just better hope it’s not a repeat of the Ruiz fiasco.

Unfortunately, this means that if you want a value bet, you either have to hope for a miracle – or bet on a different market, such as the method of victory, over/under rounds etc. Betting on Joshua won’t offer you much.

The Latest Betting Odds for Joshua vs Pulev

The odds are out now, and more will be added as the fight gets closer, but as it stands, here are the best value odds on the market:

Winner Odds

Anthony Joshua – Best Odds 1/6 at Betfair Exchange

Kubrat Pulev – Best Odds 13/2 at Unibet

Draw – Best Odds 33/1 at BetVictor

Method of Victory

Joshua by TKO, Ko or DQ – Best Odds 4/9 at William Hill

Joshua by Decision – Best Odds 16/5 at Betfair

Pulev by TKO, KO or DQ – Best Odds 9/1 at BetVictor

Pulev by Decision – Best Odds 20/1 at BetVictor

Draw or Technical Draw – Best Odds 33/1 at Betfair

Round Betting

Joshua on Points – Best Odds 11/4 at William Hill

Joshua Round 1 –  Best Odds 25/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 2 – Best Odds 16/1 at Betfair

Joshua Round 3 – Best Odds 12/1 at William Hill

Joshua Round 4 – Best Odds 11/1 at William Hill

Joshua Round 5 – Best Odds 10/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 6 – Best Odds 10/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 7 – Best Odds 12/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 8 – Best Odds 12/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 9 – Best Odds 16/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 10 – Best Odds 20/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 11 – Best Odds 25/1 at BetVictor

Joshua Round 12 – Best Odds 33/1 at BetVictor

Pulev on Points – Best Odds 20/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 1 – Best Odds 125/1 at Betfair

Pulev Round 2 – Best Odds 100/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 3 – Best Odds 100/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 4 – Best Odds 80/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 5 – Best Odds 66/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 6 – Best Odds 66/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 7 – Best Odds 66/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 8 – Best Odds 80/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 9 – Best Odds 80/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 10 – Best Odds 80/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 11 – Best Odds 100/1 at BetVictor

Pulev Round 12 – Best Odds 100/1 at BetVictor

Total Rounds

Over 6.5 – Best Odds 8/11 at BetVictor

Under 6.5 – Best Odds Evens at BetVictor

Go the Distance

No – Best Odds 2/7 at William Hill

Yes – Best Odds 11/4 at Betfair

Odds will be updated and added regularly, so check back later for the latest information closer to the time. However, remember that the earlier you bet, the better the odds in general.

Joshua v Pulev Betting Analysis

As a fight that is seen as a foregone conclusion, the analysis all points one way. Anthony Joshua is 31 years old and is 6ft 6 – with a reach of 82 inches. As it stands, he has 23 wins with 1 loss – and an impressive knockout record of 21 out of 23. Generally, Joshua is a man that offers up a very good show, apart from the Ruiz Jr blot on his copybook. However, that didn’t last for long, and Joshua was keen to make amends with a points win in the rematch in Saudi Arabia, December 2019.

Before the hiccup, Joshua seemed to be unbeatable. After winning Olympic gold in 2012, he moved into his very successful professional career and on to win world title belts. In 2015 he had his first big win when he beat Dillion Whyte with a seventh-round TKO. The next fight saw Joshua win his first world title when he knocked out Charles Martin in the second round. Then, he really hit the big time when he fought Wladimir Klitschko. It looked to be almost over for Joshua until he made a stupendous come back and beat the Russian giant in the 11^th round. This win saw him add the WBA World Heavyweight title to his IBF title. He followed this with a win over Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker (WBO champion) and Alexander Povetkin. Then came Ruiz… However, the rematch secured the titles back.

Kubrat Pulev is 39 – so is older (and possibly slower) than his opponent. The Bulgarian fighter has a pretty decent record, nonetheless, with 28 wins and 1 loss. Half of those wins were KOs or TKOs. Pulev has been a pro boxer for longer, having first turned pro 11 years ago in 2009. He’s a tad shorter than Joshua, at 6ft 4 ½ and has a shorter reach of 79 ½ inches. His first twenty fight were all victories, and this gave him the chance to face Klitschko for the world titles. The match happened in 2014, and this had quite a different outcome from what the Bulgarian was used to. Klitschko annihilated Pulev, knocking him down twice before his knockout left hook in the fifth round. He’s been climbing the ladder back since then and has fought and beat a number of tough opponents, but none like Joshua. Pulev believes this could be another big shock for the boxing world – but we’re not convinced lightning will strike twice.

Where and How to Bet on Joshua v Pulev

There are a number of ways you can bet on the big fight, but if you go to one of our recommended boxing sites, then you will not only find better value odds, but you’ll also benefit from any deals, free bets and promos on offer.

Don’t forget to check out their features as well, to make the bet even more exciting, and read out boxing betting strategies to give you a helping hand if you’re new to the game.

Things to Consider when Betting on Joshua v Pulev

Pulev is going in as the underdog and has nothing to lose really, as no one expects anything from him. On the other hand, because of the pandemic, it’s been a while since either one has had a big competitive fight. Moreover, with everyone thinking it’s a foregone conclusion, there’s always a chance that Joshua could be a little cocky and overconfident, which doesn’t always work out well.

However, you can’t ignore the facts. Joshua is younger, taller and has a longer reach. Also, he beat Klitschko – the man who humiliated Pulev. All the signs point to a Joshua victory. It’s also likely that AJ will be certain not to let the Ruiz debacle be repeated and so he will be sure to go out and finish the job. No surprises, no excuses and no defeat. Sensible money would go on Joshua every day.

Betting Predictions – Joshua vs Pulev – Who Will Win?

Well, as we said, this will more than likely be a Joshua win, but putting money on him won’t get you much in terms of return. As such, we’d recommend taking up another bet to make it worth your while. As the stats show, Joshua often finishes the job and so it’s unlikely the fight will go the distance. So, what would we recommend? Well that very much depends on the risk you want to take for a return: As such we have a handful of possible bets:

Joshua to win – 1/6 at Betfair Exchange

Fight to go the Distance NO – 2/7 at BetVictor

Over 6.5 Rounds – 8/11 at BetVictor

Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 – 15/8 at William Hill

Joshua to win in Round 7 –  12/1 at BetVictor