“But a few days ago he was this big unsafe southpaw”. That was it for Martin (23-1-1, 21 KOs), who had won the belt in January under freaky circumstances and now owns the second shortest reign for a heavyweight champion.
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Eddie Hearn sounded like a dad who had organised the world’s best birthday party, only for his son to declare afterwards: “Yeah, it was all right I s’pose…” “That cost the fight”. A big right-hand from Joshua sent Martin to the canvas, and although he survived the count, he was sent crashing back down to the floor seconds later by another powerful right. “I’m not going to get too carried away because we still have work to do”.
26-year-old Joshua told BBC Radio 5 live: “The promoters are going to do their promoting, the fighters are going to do their fighting and the public are going to do their talking and I’m going to keep on walking”.
“Plus I didn’t want to wait and let him become my mandatory (challenger) because then he is supposed to be there”. I’m pretty confident, however, both Fury and Joshua will emerge from their next bouts still undefeated, still champions and ready to do battle this winter. I’m just tucked away in the gym, you’ll only see me in (superstores) Ikea or ASDA.
Joshua is determined to make some noise in the heavyweight division. Just like his loyal following.
The fight, at the O2 Arena, is only Joshua’s 16th as a professional but comes after a decorated amateur career in which he won an Olympic gold medal and a promising period in which each of his previous 15 fights generated significant interest. Martin made a brash arrival sporting a bejewelled crown, but his bravado was not matched between the ropes.
Joshua’s two-round knockout of Charles Martin brings Britain back up to the dozen after Scott Quigg lost his WBA super-bantamweight title to Carl Frampton in February.
Martin looked at Van Imschoot and finally jumped to his feet at the end of the 10-count, but the referee waved the fight off as Martin argued he could continue.
“I come to knock people out”, Joshua said.
All 16 wins since his pro debut in 2013 have been by KO and Joshua hope he has proved he’s “not just some beach body boxer”.
Fury took to Twitter to criticise his young rival’s performance, but Joshua said he would lower his self to that level. Every fight gets better and better and better.
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Fury, 27, must first prevail against Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch in Manchester on July 9 before thinking about meeting Joshua.
