In the eyes of many boxing fans, Kubrat Pulev is a deadman walking ahead of his heavyweight championship bout with Anthony Joshua on October 28.

After an intended re-match Wladimir Klitschko under the lights of Las Vegas, Joshua decided to defend his WBA and IBF world titles against mandatory challenger Pulev.

The Bulgarian established an impressive pedigree in the amateur game before turning professional in 2009 and boasting a 26-1 record only spoilt by Klitschko himself in 2014.

Dr. Steelhammer stretched his astonishing unbeaten run to a decade with a third round stoppage, having already floored Pulev just seconds into the opening round.

It's been an arduous journey back to the top for Pulev who will get his second and, more than likely, last shot at a world title at the Principality Stadium to a man who fared very different against Klitschko.

Joshua sent shock waves through the boxing world when he became only the fifth fighter to defeat the Ukrainian, ending his career with a technical knockout in the 11th round.

As a result, it would suggest that AJ will have no trouble beating Pulev when he's already conquered a man who wiped the floor with him. It's not quite as simple as that, however.

Pulev was facing a Klitschko at his very best in a performance heralded as one of Dr. Steelhammer's finest in recent years. Meanwhile, Joshua entered his respective bout against a 41-year-old version who hadn't stepped between the ropes for 17 months.

Even then, AJ was left flat on his back in the sixth round and came within a right hook of tasting canvas in the rounds following.

And Pulev is keen to look back on the two Klitschko bouts as a positive in his favour.

According to Sky Sports, the Bulgarian expounded: "I don't just say I learnt this or that from the Klitschko fight. I learnt many things. From one loss, a man learns more than when he wins.

"When you win you think you are the number one and nothing more is needed. A loss makes you do more and more.

In other words, Pulev believes losing to Klitschko has actually helped him more than defeating him - as Joshua did.

He believes he knows exactly why Klitschko performed worse against Joshua, too.

"When Klitschko fought 'AJ' it was 50/50, but he did not prepare properly. He thought he would beat Joshua no problem.

"You learn from losses. I enjoy my training now and my preparation has been concentrated, strong and smart - I'm ready."

It seems that as far as preparation is concerned, AJ is facing a very different animal now. Pulev certainly isn't the pushover people think he is, that's for sure.

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