“It’s interesting because there will probably be some negativity about Charles Martin being easy and so on, but a few days ago he was this big, risky southpaw and I ain’t fought no southpaws”, Joshua said afterwards. Martin (23-1-1, 21 KOs) was dropped again with another right hand, this time for good, ending Martin’s reign as heavyweight champion, which wound up being the second-shortest in history.
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Martin sprang from obscurity to be IBF champion in January when he won the vacant belt after Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov injured a knee in the third round.
Joshua will likely, nearly certainly, have a “safe” first defence – there is, crazily, talk of A. J making his maiden defence on July 9th, the same night Fury is set to fight Wladimir Klitschko in their rematch; both these fights seemingly headed towards a big stadium in the United Kingdom – before signing up to take on a real test. Hopefully this test will come in the form of Fury or Haye. I’m just tucked away in the gym, you’ll only see me in (superstores) Ikea or ASDA.
Joshua, according to Hearn, will fight one of the top 15 ranked contenders in a big Wembley card, the first since Froch-Groves II. His stoppage of Martin began with a counter right that he cut loose just as Martin’s right jab was reaching for him. Joshua scored a knockdown on a devastating right hand counterpunch to Martin’s chin, setting him straight back on his backside.
“I’m going to walk through Fury when he’s ready”, said Joshua.
Nearly four years after Joshua claimed gold for Britain at the London Olympics, the venue was different in the capital but there was the same raucous home support to see another dominant victory by the humble fighter.
And he says Sky Sports supremo Barney Francis is backing him in this battle of the TV ratings with Fury and Frank Warren’s BoxNation. “I’m going to keep my eyes on Joshua and batter him about the ring”.
“I have got skill. I will beat those three, just as I beat Charles Martin, line them up one after the other”.
“I’ve got a back injury”.
He was sent sprawling twice and while he appeared aware of referee Jean Pierre van Imschoot’s count for the second one he was too slow to react and the official had no choice but to award the fight to Joshua by KO.
Joshua, we are led to believe, has booked a date for a unification showdown with Fury – perhaps in his next outing, maybe by the end of the year – but there are no guarantees in this business.
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Fury watched the Joshua-Martin fight and offered a taunt in his immediate reaction, announced via his “Gypsy King” Twitter account. All the hype is good for everyone in boxing, not just myself. “That’s why I’m pretty calm because I know what I want and I’ve got the greatest people around me to help me achieve my dreams so I’m not going to let them down neither”.
