Growing Tension Before Long-Awaited Klitschko-Pulev Boxing Match

The November 15 match between the reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine and his Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev is nearing amidst growing tension.

Klitschko, who is the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Organization (IBO) and Ring magazine champion, has a record of 62 wins out of 65 fights, 52 of them coming by knockout.

Klitschko is the longest reigning IBF, WBO & IBO heavyweight champion with the most title defences for those organizations. Dr Steelhammer is the second longest reigning Heavyweight Champion of all time with the second most successful grand total title defences numbering 21, including his super title recognition.

On the opposite corner of the ring will be standing the The Cobra, who is undefeated in his career as a professional heavyweight boxer, with 20 wins, 11 coming by knockout.

Pulev earned his status as mandatory challenger to Klitschko's IBF title after beating Tony Thompson in August 2013. Since then the Bulgarian has been awaiting the fight with growing impatience, while the Ukrainian has fulfiled other mandatory title defences.

The match was initially scheduled for September 6, but was postponed after Klitschko injured his biceps during a training. However Pulev never believed the injury was genuine. A similar accusation was hurled at Klitschko in 2011, when he avoided a tittle fight against Dereck Chisora by allegedly faking a back injury.

According to critics, the reason for the delay of the fight might be that Pulev represents the biggest challenge to Klitschko's reign in the last 10 years. Since his last defeat to Lamon Brewster in 2004, Klitschko has been dominating the heavyweight division. 

The build-up to the fight has been characterised with tense atmosphere as Pulev has been subject to rigorous drug testing, which has not been the case with Klitschko.

The week preceding the fight has similarly been filled with scandals, as Pulev did not attend the Monday joint pressconference. The Bulgarian refused  to participate because the organizers of the match denied his team access to the hall.

On Wednesday the two opponents held their open workout at the Volkswagen center in Hamburg, with Klitschko doing a complete workout, while Pulev did a short and simple warm-up. He was not content with the gloves provided to him by Klitschko's camp, as these were too tight and uncomfortable.

The two boxers face off each other for the heavyweight world title on November 15 at the O2 World arena in Hamburg.

In Bulgaria, the Saturday fight will be broadcasted live on NOVA TV with a commentary studio starting at 11 pm.

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