KUBRAT PULEV has claimed Anthony Joshua is "nothing special" and predicted he will be knocked out in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Pulev was beaten in nine rounds by AJ in December 2020, before the Brit lost to Usyk in his next fight last September.
The heavyweights are now set to rematch on August 20 in Saudi Arabia, with Joshua given the chance to reclaim unified gold.
But Pulev, 41, doubts AJ will even hear the final bell again and warned to expect a repeat result.
He told iFL TV: “When they make a rematch, I think Usyk is going to knock him out because Joshua is nothing special.
“I lost against him, but I wasn’t good prepared. It’s my mistake, of course.
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"It’s my fault, but that was the situation. Now I’m a lot of power and energy. Health is most important."
Joshua, 32, has left long-time coach Rob McCracken in Team GB's Sheffield HQ following defeat to Usyk, 35.
He has since promoted No2 trainer Angel Fernandez and relocated to Loughborough.
Esteemed US boxing mastermind Robert Garcia is also now part of the camp having traded California for Leicestershire.
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Joshua was outclassed convincingly by Usyk over 12 rounds as his bizarre box and move tactics were questioned.
Fernandez and Garcia are tasked with regaining AJ's ruthlessness and confidence, as promoter Eddie Hearn opened up on the game plan.
Hearn said: "For a long time he was quite rebellious and said 'I could have beaten him like that' and when he sat down with Robert they saw a way to beat him.
"He has finally accepted the mistakes he made in the first fight and that is what he is saying now.
"We have always seen a way to beat Usyk but getting in there and doing it is a whole lot different.
"I am much more confident now he has shared twelve rounds with him. You have to just get in there and be you.
"That is what he didn’t do in the first fight he wasn’t himself it isn’t difficult just be yourself in the fight and beat him.
"Yeah he can possibly win on points but I think he can knock him out.
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"But that is what you have to do is cut him off and f hit him anywhere you want around the body.
"He doesn’t like it around the body, he said after the fight Usyk‘ that was a hard night’s work’ and he didn't even hit him."
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