Hearn turns down title shot for AJ???

[p4pking]

I don't see it as a gimme for Joshua, has he ever even fought a southpaw before? Martin isn't special, but he's pretty decent, is about the same size as AJ exactly and does have a bit of a punch. If you think Dillian Whyte was some monster and AJ is ready for anyone after that fine, but I don't buy it just yet. That was a very good fight, but not a terrific showing imo.

[Fenster]

"World" champion calling out a prospect?

They're gonna need a bigger venue than the O2 when AJ fights for a "world" title.

[Primo Carnera]

I don't see it as a gimme for Joshua, has he ever even fought a southpaw before? Martin isn't special, but he's pretty decent, is about the same size as AJ exactly and does have a bit of a punch. If you think Dillian Whyte was some monster and AJ is ready for anyone after that fine, but I don't buy it just yet. That was a very good fight, but not a terrific showing imo.

I don't think it's a gimme, far from it. But it's a World Title shot, so it's never gonna be a gimme. It's a fair point about him being a Southpaw. But again, if this fight was made 3 months ago as a learning fight with a Good Southpaw, bearing in mind everyone wants AJ to get rounds, I'm not sure too many people would've complained.

[IamInuit]

People don’t take risks in this market. Like I've said, it’s become a caricature of itself. I agree with @Primo Carnera 110%. You need to grasp these chances and at this point even if he lost it wouldn’t hurt him. Later it could ruin his career. People are talking about Bruno's comeback and the comparisons have been made but Frank given the same circumstances would have taken this fight. Risk and Reward and the fundamentals it stands for in this sport have eroded. It’s now a rape of the rewards w/o any risk. Nobody had ever heard of Martin and his title fight was viewed as a joke because of the opponents and because it was a throwaway title by Fury. Now it’s too big a risk for boxing’s newest deliverer of heavyweight purgatory. And to offer to come to England, I already like the guy. Big deal that Whyte gave him some issues. Joshua probably fought that fight on nervous energy and the event however trivial to the outside world occupied much of his because of the past. It wasn’t Mayorga/Forrest.

[Master]

I think it is sensible not to rush AJ to the world level. He does not want to be another Wilder making east defences and still learning his trade defending the title. Joshua is still relatively inexperienced.

[Ron Swanson]

People don’t take risks in this market. Like I've said, it’s become a caricature of itself. I agree with @Primo Carnera 110%. You need to grasp these chances and at this point even if he lost it wouldn’t hurt him. Later it could ruin his career. People are talking about Bruno's comeback and the comparisons have been made but Frank given the same circumstances would have taken this fight. Risk and Reward and the fundamentals it stands for in this sport have eroded. It’s now a rape of the rewards w/o any risk. Nobody had ever heard of Martin and his title fight was viewed as a joke because of the opponents and because it was a throwaway title by Fury. Now it’s too big a risk for boxing’s newest deliverer of heavyweight purgatory. And to offer to come to England, I already like the guy. Big deal that Whyte gave him some issues. Joshua probably fought that fight on nervous energy and the event however trivial to the outside world occupied much of his because of the past. It wasn’t Mayorga/Forrest.

The fights are all shit and the fans are all making the point that it should be shit. Seriously, nearly everyone here agrees NOT TO TAKE THE TITLE FIGHT. All the logical replies that can be made can't get around the fact there is not one fight on the horizon where you think "these are the 2 best without question, this was the fight that needed to happen". It's hard to care about this sport in the slightest with how badly it is rigged these days. Worst era ever

[Master]

People don’t take risks in this market. Like I've said, it’s become a caricature of itself. I agree with @Primo Carnera 110%. You need to grasp these chances and at this point even if he lost it wouldn’t hurt him. Later it could ruin his career. People are talking about Bruno's comeback and the comparisons have been made but Frank given the same circumstances would have taken this fight. Risk and Reward and the fundamentals it stands for in this sport have eroded. It’s now a rape of the rewards w/o any risk. Nobody had ever heard of Martin and his title fight was viewed as a joke because of the opponents and because it was a throwaway title by Fury. Now it’s too big a risk for boxing’s newest deliverer of heavyweight purgatory. And to offer to come to England, I already like the guy. Big deal that Whyte gave him some issues. Joshua probably fought that fight on nervous energy and the event however trivial to the outside world occupied much of his because of the past. It wasn’t Mayorga/Forrest.

The fights are all shit and the fans are all making the point that it should be shit. Seriously, nearly everyone here agrees NOT TO TAKE THE TITLE FIGHT. All the logical replies that can be made can't get around the fact there is not one fight on the horizon where you think "these are the 2 best without question, this was the fight that needed to happen". It's hard to care about this sport in the slightest with how badly it is rigged these days. Worst era ever

Whilst I agree the heavyweight and middleweight scene is in a embarrassing situation it seems you have lost the love of the game? Boxing has these phases and you just have to recognise it for what it is. AJ is in a position where he does not have to take this fight and I believe he is right on this occasion.

[Tam Seddon]

Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin in Serious Talks, Says Hearn - Boxing News

[Fenster]

"Martin wants an extortionate amount of money"

In other words - there's no chance it's him.

[TitoFan]

People don’t take risks in this market. Like I've said, it’s become a caricature of itself. I agree with @Primo Carnera 110%. You need to grasp these chances and at this point even if he lost it wouldn’t hurt him. Later it could ruin his career. People are talking about Bruno's comeback and the comparisons have been made but Frank given the same circumstances would have taken this fight. Risk and Reward and the fundamentals it stands for in this sport have eroded. It’s now a rape of the rewards w/o any risk. Nobody had ever heard of Martin and his title fight was viewed as a joke because of the opponents and because it was a throwaway title by Fury. Now it’s too big a risk for boxing’s newest deliverer of heavyweight purgatory. And to offer to come to England, I already like the guy. Big deal that Whyte gave him some issues. Joshua probably fought that fight on nervous energy and the event however trivial to the outside world occupied much of his because of the past. It wasn’t Mayorga/Forrest.

Boxing will eventually consist of champions and prospects alike fighting "risk-free" opposition, while big money fights are left to "marinate" (coined by ODLH?). The buildup to big fights will totally overwhelm the actual fights themselves. Marinating will eventually become "rotting", as time will come and go and fighters will continue their endless holding patterns. Every time a glitch appears in one of their fights, their handlers will go "OOPS..... not yet." Fans will grow old and die, and we'll just continue making threads of "What if X fought Y..... who would win?"

That's why I stick to football.