Anthony Joshua to fight Charles Martin for IBF title

[Dark Lord Al]

Joshua was reckless against Whyte and he probably learned a lesson that you cant go all out against better opposition.
It is a good matchup between 2 unproven HW'S .

[p4pking]

Joshua was reckless against Whyte and he probably learned a lesson that you cant go all out against better opposition.
It is a good matchup between 2 unproven HW'S .

Yea I agree with that, but I feel like if Martin does well in this fight it's not going to be in a shoot out anyways. He hasn't faced better opposition than AJ himself, but he fights pretty conservatively so I could see him doing better or having more of a chance the deeper it goes. I wouldn't be surprised to see Joshua go all out and win any more than I would to see him be patient and win a decision or get a late stoppage, I think. It's a good fight because just about any result wouldn't be a big surprise.

[Dia bando]

AJ for this match Martin will be lucky to last 6 rounds I have seen nothing in Martins ring generalship
a good match well worth watching, maybe a start to a more exciting HW division.

[Lineal]

I'm glad they got it done. Martin may be cashing out but he is undefeated and is still an unknown commodity.

Joshua couldn't really pass it up.

Two heavy's going at it with the winner emerging as a contender.

[ross]

I thought my thread titled "Fair play to Joshua and Hearn" had been deleted until I realised someone had just taken it upon themselves to change the fucking title!

Is this a dictatorship or what!

[ross]

None taken master

[Primo Carnera]

I'm glad they got it done. Martin may be cashing out but he is undefeated and is still an unknown commodity.

Joshua couldn't really pass it up.

Two heavy's going at it with the winner emerging as a contender.

Tbf, the Winner emerges as the World Champion. I know what you're saying , but according to the Governing Bodies and their rankings , Joshua already IS a contender (don't quite know who he has beat to get that high in the rankings though) and Martin IS World Champion.
After all, are we saying Quigg and Frampton are Contenders?
It's just how it is nowadays.

[Fenster]

This is a situation where the silly alphabet belt massively elevates the fight - for hardcore fans as well as casuals.

Most people won't have a danny what the difference is between Fury and AJ being world champ.

[erics44]

wont have any idea

[TitoFan]

From a fan perspective, should be 10 times more entertaining than the recent Fury-Wlad fight.
I hope it's televised live in the US.

[Kirkland Laing]

I just heard. I know it's February but doesn't Wembley have a roof? I'm not sure they'd fill it but they can definitely make it worth hiring it.

I've not seen Martin other than his last fight but he's a big bugger and he's southpaw and got power. It's not like Joshua wouldn't get opportunities in the future for titles so this is a hell of a risk for such a big heavyweight prospect.

Has Haye announced his next opponent yet? If he hasn't he'll be having a good look at the IBF top contenders to see if he can make a date with them I'm sure.

If Haye would just stay active and should Joshua take the trinket, they may just see fit to put Haye in one of those infamous "Not rated" slots in the ibf.

They might make him Interim Emeritus champion.

If Hearn, Joshua and Haye want it they'll find a way to rank him or make him mandatory even if he fights Roy Jones in March. him mandatory if

[denilson200]

I don't see Martin going past 3 rounds. Martin has not faced anyone at the level of Joshua. He's been calling out Joshua, well



Because that's a decision Martin will regret. He could have easily cashed out and fought a few Derek Chisora's type fighters (And I not even sure he would beat Chisora). But fair play to him he's taken on the most dangerous young heavyweight out there, when there were surely easier assignments he could have took but I don't see this as a dangerous fight at all for Joshua.

[nuggetdotcom]

I think Martin has done really well combining his career as a celebrity Chef with boxing.

[Dark Lord Al]

I think Martin has done really well combining his career as a celebrity Chef with boxing.

I did notice he doesn't look much like his brother and fellow chef James Martin.

[erics44]

I think its a big set up from the start me

soon as fury won the title the IBF knew they wanted AJ as their champ