Kubrat Pulev training in the mountains for Anthony Joshua fight and promises ‘avalanche’ to expose big flaw – ‘The end will come like lightning!’

Pulev is not to be underestimated, having lost just one fight in his entire career, to former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko six years ago.

Joshua, 31, also has just the one defeat to his name, that shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2018 – and Pulev believes he can expose the same flaws as the Mexican did on that dramatic night in New York.

Speaking to Marc Gatford via the Betway Insider blog, Pulev said: “This is going to be a mind game and a chess game for as long as it lasts – a master chess game – but the only difference is the end is going to come like lightning.

I can tell the fans that I will expose AJ again and prove they have been idolising the wrong guy. I will expose him to the world for a second time.

“I have been watching his fights carefully. He has a good style and he is a good specimen, but he has not shown any mental toughness.

“Yes, he has skills, but he hasn’t shown the mental strength. This is something from within, in the blood of a man, and he does not have it.

“Whatever mental toughness he’s got, I know I’m the harder person. This is the difference – my toughness will prevail.”

And Pulev looks set to bring plenty of physical toughness to London following an extraordinary camp.

The fighter reveals he has been training on his own at high-altitude in what sounds more like a survival mission than boxing prep.

He added: “I have been running 10km in a 50-minute range in the Pirin mountains in southwestern Bulgaria to prepare my stamina. I have also been climbing the famous ‘Tooth’ peak, which has really tough terrain and gets to around 2600m-2700m high, where the air gets very thin.

“I have also been training at a famous Belmeken Olympic sport complex up in the mountains. It was built for the old East German outfit that was looking for the best conditions anywhere in Europe.

“It’s a high-altitude base camp away from the noise of the city, a place to build the mind and the body while isolated in the mountains. AJ said he will steamroll me. Well, we bring an avalanche back down the mountain.

“Physically and mentally I feel the best I’ve felt in my life. I feel amazing and ready. He can try his best, but I can assure him one thing: he may have seen some very good opponents, but he hasn’t seen anything like me in the ring ever before.”

Original interview came via the Betway Insider blog, where you can find all the latest sporting insight and tips