Mikhail Takov tells FAKTI about Cobra's loss: In the heavyweight division, one mistake, one punch can decide the match

Kubrat Pulev failed to defend the regular world title of the World Boxing Association (WBA) in the heavyweight division. As is known, the Bulgarian lost by knockout in the sixth round to Murat Gasiev in a fight in Dubai. What happened… Boxing specialist Mikhail Takov speaks to FACT.

- Mr. Takov, Kubrat Pulev lost his last boxing match against the Russian Murat Gasiev. What impressed you about his game?
- The Cobra had a well-established tactic that was distributed between the rounds, against a good boxer.

- Is one punch the difference between a 44-year-old boxer and a 32-year-old boxer?
- You could say that. In the heavyweight division, one mistake, one punch can decide the match. But also in the heavyweight division, this cannot be assessed so easily – where and how the capabilities of one and the other are used. Everything develops according to a certain tactic and one missed punch can confuse the entire match.

- Is that the key thing in the heavyweight division – not to make mistakes?
- Yes. As Tervel said after the fight – this is not football, not volleyball, not basketball. This is boxing. In the first rounds, when both are fresh, the tactics of both show how far they can go. Surely both Kobrat and Gasiev have watched many matches to prepare for each other.

- How do you prepare for such a fight?
- You can always find the shortcomings of both. You analyze the mistakes that are made - movements, feints, which hand goes where, lower or higher. And the tactics are built on this basis.

- In the sixth round, which is the middle of the match, this heavy blow came from Gasiev. Kobrat allowed it because of a low guard or...
- Until the sixth round, Kubrat's game was perfect. Gasiev and his staff have done a very serious study of his game - from individual movements, to specific moments and mistakes. All this has an impact on the development of the match.

- Will the Cobra have the strength for more, he is already 44 years old?
- We will see, he will decide. Look, it is important for Bulgaria that Kubrat and Tervel opened a new page in Bulgarian professional boxing. So many matches, so many titles - European champion, intercontinental champion, world champion in WBA. Sixteen years in professional boxing - we have no other boxer like the Cobra with such achievements. He played for a world title three times, became a title holder. The Cobra is unattainable in the history of Bulgarian boxing - both professional and amateur. Yes, he does not have an Olympic medal, but Tervel does. Each of them gave a lot.

- What did Kubrat want to show in the match with Gasiev?
- I can only say one thing about the match with Gasiev - great respect. So many kids came to the gym because they saw the two brothers in the ring. We saw respect from Gassiev too – he said he respected the more experienced and older boxers, he gave him the belt. This is very important, this is an example, this is great sport.