AJ FIGHTING CHARLES MARTIN!!

[mickey1975]

It is no prestigious title. It's been taken from the real champ so Fast Eddie can buy a title. It's a joke.

[Rob3_142]

I'm very excited about Anthony Joshua, have been since he hit the scene, and have watched all his fights with the greatest of interest, but the last thing I'm going to do is wish the world away.

I think 'fighting soft defences against lesser opponents' is a bit of a vague statement. He's not going to go back to fighting British level fights after the Martin fight. Every fight after that will be a world level fight (which by the way he hasn't even done yet). Okay fine, the fighters on the IBF ranking list are not necessarily setting the boxing fraternity alight, but they're solid world level fighters which will continue to aid Joshua in his education. These fights will most certainly not 'reinforce his weaknesses' - that's just ridiculous. Anthony Joshua in his last fight fought Dillian Whyte and learned more in that fight than he had in the previous 14. Where would you rank Whyte in the list of possible opponents? Did that fight turn him into a worse fighter? Will fighting Martin making him a worse fighter?

Joshua will take on your list at one time or another (of course unless Haye retires before that happens), but there is definitely a process which you need to understand. There's a fine balance to picking the right route to success, either be that in winning world championships or earning the biggest purses. I personally believe that Joshua could fight a plastic bag, and they'd still sell out Wembley, so as far as I'm concerned (as I'm sure is the same for his management team) they'll concentrate on winning the world championship belts, and those mega blockbuster fights will come.

The other side of it is that if he holds belts, he will have mandatory defences, and if he's in ranking lists he'll have title eliminator matches, so fighting your wishlist becomes a little bit more tricky. Also Joshua is not the only person after these belts, Joseph Parker is up and coming and in the IBF rankings, Dominic Breazeale is also unbeaten and hungry, while Ortiz is bettering everything in his path. Other people have mandatory shots at Fury which have to be answered.

It's simple. If Joshua blows Martin away in April then there maybe a call for Joshua to call out the likes of Haye or Parker, and it'll rocket him up the rankings also. But if he limps past Martin or even gets beat, then his team will have to reassess, and maybe take an intermediate fight before a big September showdown with someone.

I get the process but what i don't get is fans wanting to follow it. That's the stuff promoters and managers force feed us to try and keep our expectations in check. The last thing the sport needs is for fans to be declaring that we think fighter X should fight fighter A, B or C before even contemplating a fight with fighter Y or Z.

C'mon man, let's live a little and call for the mega fights one after the other. Do we really want the heavyweight division to go the way of the middleweight division where we have the main champion going one way and then a couple of paper champions more than happy to sit back and defend their belts for a while waiting to see what happens?

BJS & Canelo should be knocking down GGG's door to fight him. Not making ridiculous financial claims to make sure it doesn't happen and protecting their bauble

Quigg or Frampton should be after Rigondeaux once they've had their fight.

Of course their are risks to it and they have things to weigh up but as a fan i want to see them fight asap!!!

Yeah but the reason a lot of these fights don't happen is because both camps can't agree terms. The only way you can force the issue is to get mandatory status, and force them. The only way you can do this is by jumping through the hoops of the organisations.

I understand your point of view, and that is of the purest. But in the real world, we just have to wait for Mayweather and Pacquiao to be almost dead before they make the fight. The only good thing about the heavyweight division is that they can't dip into other weight categories to avoid fights like Kahn is. I feel ducks in the heavyweight division are a bit more obvious, and usually criticised more heavily, as if Wilder ducked Povetkin, for whatever reason, it won't go down well.

Plus you have to, again, realise there are other people in the division, and you have to either earn your big fights, or be prepared to offer the opposition a bigger slice of a big revenue pie

[Rob3_142]

You can't help but get excited watching this though...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QgALfsEQIQ

[crusader]

Watching clips of both of them one thing that strikes me is that they both put their shots together relatively well. I'd say Martin's hands are a bit faster (I really don't know why so many think Joshua has good hand speed!), but he looks even stiffer on his legs than Joshua, is sloppier from a technical standpoint, and despite having a fancy KO ratio I doubt that he can hang with AJ in the power or physical strength departments. IMO AJ should take this by stoppage without facing major problems, though I don't think Martin is as bad as some believe.

[ALI]

Martin is garbage, hence why Joshua gets to fight him. Its a sad state of affairs that he has a world title.

Hearns telling joe public its a 50/50 fight, the bookies are telling them its a one horse race

[dinkybob]

Looking forward to this one. Another chance for another British world champion. Whether we think AJ is ready or if we all think that Martin is not true world level, is all irrelevant as they are getting it on. This might not be potentially the most exciting fight between the two best heavyweights on the planet, but what it is, is a great chance to see another world title fight. I feel a little sorry for AJ in this one, as I think If he steam rolls Martin, everyone will say it was expected, and if he gets beaten many will say he was not at a high enough level. I see it like this. He had been given a shot at a world belt, and is grabbing it with both hands, whether his opponent is the best in the world or a bum from the streets it makes no difference, he is fighting for a world belt. Hopefully he wins and moves on to even bigger things. We to often see on here people saying that so and so is the best and that this thingemmy bob is better than him. ...... Martin has taken this fight in the UK, at great risk really and so huge credit to him, and for the promoters getting the fight on in the first place. A man can only fight what is put in front of him and unfortunately to many of the so called best duck and dive away from really proving that they are the best of the best.

[lillywhite14]

Some miserable bastards in here at times. Love him or loathe him, he's had 15 fights. He's a novice and this is an early step up. Martin is a bit of an unknown quantity as it stands. He was dong pretty well against Glazkov though at the time of the stoppage.

Peopl called for a step up in opponent, this clearly is, and now it's here they find a reason to slag it off. We all know Fury is the champ, I have no doubt Joshua himself knows this. Ignore the IBF trinket that's attached to this and just enjoy seeing a Briish fighter taking a risk early in his career.

[reggaereggae]

You can't help but get excited watching this though...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QgALfsEQIQ

Really? I find it embarrassing.... The piece makes it look like a fight for the southern area title...

[lefty]

Has Joshua actually fought any southpaws as a pro?

[davie]

Joshua will win this with consummate ease, and become just as marked as Martin has been. Still not convinced he's ready for that, but we'll wait and see. Hope I'm proved wrong.

What's the betting Haye and Fury are racing each other to get into the ring to call out AJ as soon as he stops Martin.

Fury wanting to pull another Hulk Hogan show and his buddy Haye climbing through the ropes at the other side of the ring with another decapitation t-shirt on.

[Horse]

What's the betting Haye and Fury are racing each other to get into the ring to call out AJ as soon as he stops Martin.

Fury wanting to pull another Hulk Hogan show and his buddy Haye climbing through the ropes at the other side of the ring with another decapitation t-shirt on.

Then Fury and Haye end up arguing with each other, get into a physical altercation and that is the beginning of the big build up for their PPV fight, leaving Joshua to defend against Chisora.

[davie]

What's the betting Haye and Fury are racing each other to get into the ring to call out AJ as soon as he stops Martin.

Fury wanting to pull another Hulk Hogan show and his buddy Haye climbing through the ropes at the other side of the ring with another decapitation t-shirt on.

Then Fury and Haye end up arguing with each other, get into a physical altercation and that is the beginning of the big build up for their PPV fight, leaving Joshua to defend against Chisora.

Then we get to see Camp Eddie give another interview, feeling sorry for himself missing out on another big fight/payday.

[Horse]

Then we get to see Camp Eddie give another interview, feeling sorry for himself missing out on another big fight/payday.

Meanwhile Brook's still twiddling his thumbs, urinating his prime away.

[Counter-puncher]

Has Joshua actually fought any southpaws as a pro?

Don't think so. His footwork will look beyond-awkward, no doubt

Still at least that will encourage him to #stayhumble

[blanca]

Its embarrassing that novices like josh and martin are fighting for a so called world title. Its also convenient how ibf stripped fury then suddenly camp eddie gets one of his fighters a shot. Paper title..like he got for Quiggy. Bet he gets his missus cubic zirconia instead of diamonds! I really dont know why I keep following boxing,its more of a circus nowadays than ever

If it's such a 'Paper title', why is it so significant that a 'novice' is fighting for it? If anything, Hearn should be lauded for getting a fighter only 15 fights into his career a world title shot, and potentially pave the way for bigger and better fights with better fighters in the not so distant future!

Hi eddie!
You have contradicted yourself. The title is insignificant due to it being contested by a novice and a carthorse.the only thing special about hearn getting this fight is his relationship with the ibf.in addition a world title should be the pinnacle of a career not a stepping stone to bigger and better things,not part of a learning process.watered down belts mean sod all

[ALI]

Its embarrassing that novices like josh and martin are fighting for a so called world title. Its also convenient how ibf stripped fury then suddenly camp eddie gets one of his fighters a shot. Paper title..like he got for Quiggy. Bet he gets his missus cubic zirconia instead of diamonds! I really dont know why I keep following boxing,its more of a circus nowadays than ever

If it's such a 'Paper title', why is it so significant that a 'novice' is fighting for it? If anything, Hearn should be lauded for getting a fighter only 15 fights into his career a world title shot, and potentially pave the way for bigger and better fights with better fighters in the not so distant future!

Hi eddie!
You have contradicted yourself. The title is insignificant due to it being contested by a novice and a carthorse.the only thing special about hearn getting this fight is his relationship with the ibf.in addition a world title should be the pinnacle of a career not a stepping stone to bigger and better things,not part of a learning process.watered down belts mean sod all

Well said.

[Rob3_142]

Its embarrassing that novices like josh and martin are fighting for a so called world title. Its also convenient how ibf stripped fury then suddenly camp eddie gets one of his fighters a shot. Paper title..like he got for Quiggy. Bet he gets his missus cubic zirconia instead of diamonds! I really dont know why I keep following boxing,its more of a circus nowadays than ever

If it's such a 'Paper title', why is it so significant that a 'novice' is fighting for it? If anything, Hearn should be lauded for getting a fighter only 15 fights into his career a world title shot, and potentially pave the way for bigger and better fights with better fighters in the not so distant future!

Hi eddie!
You have contradicted yourself. The title is insignificant due to it being contested by a novice and a carthorse.the only thing special about hearn getting this fight is his relationship with the ibf.in addition a world title should be the pinnacle of a career not a stepping stone to bigger and better things,not part of a learning process.watered down belts mean sod all

Yeah but now you're contradicting yourself. You're firstly unhappy with it being a watered down title, and then the fact a watered down title is being contested by two fighters not worthy of a world belt. Who's fault is it? Joshua's or the IBF's?

The IBF may well be a discreditable organisation, and I too was irritated when Fury was forced to vacate the belt, but to suggest that the IBF did this as favour to their 'pal' Hearn, is somewhat delusional. I for one am not going to concern myself with the legitimacy of this belt, as it's hardly the end point of his journey. The fighter is the key point, and him being a step in the right direction, the belt is just an added incentive.

We're all aware of the IBF's reputation as a boxing organisation, but what are you going to do? Complain about it until you're blue in the face? Are you really going to be that concerned that Joshua is fighting this fight? The IBF need to manage their own reputation, but until they do, things like this will happen.

[blanca]

If it's such a 'Paper title', why is it so significant that a 'novice' is fighting for it? If anything, Hearn should be lauded for getting a fighter only 15 fights into his career a world title shot, and potentially pave the way for bigger and better fights with better fighters in the not so distant future!

Hi eddie!
You have contradicted yourself. The title is insignificant due to it being contested by a novice and a carthorse.the only thing special about hearn getting this fight is his relationship with the ibf.in addition a world title should be the pinnacle of a career not a stepping stone to bigger and better things,not part of a learning process.watered down belts mean sod all

Yeah but now you're contradicting yourself. You're firstly unhappy with it being a watered down title, and then the fact a watered down title is being contested by two fighters not worthy of a world belt. Who's fault is it? Joshua's or the IBF's?

The IBF may well be a discreditable organisation, and I too was irritated when Fury was forced to vacate the belt, but to suggest that the IBF did this as favour to their 'pal' Hearn, is somewhat delusional. I for one am not going to concern myself with the legitimacy of this belt, as it's hardly the end point of his journey. The fighter is the key point, and him being a step in the right direction, the belt is just an added incentive.

We're all aware of the IBF's reputation as a boxing organisation, but what are you going to do? Complain about it until you're blue in the face? Are you really going to be that concerned that Joshua is fighting this fight? The IBF need to manage their own reputation, but until they do, things like this will happen.

I wasnt alleging that hearn has been dealt a favour by the ibf,he just has a special relationship with them

[Rob3_142]

Hi eddie!
You have contradicted yourself. The title is insignificant due to it being contested by a novice and a carthorse.the only thing special about hearn getting this fight is his relationship with the ibf.in addition a world title should be the pinnacle of a career not a stepping stone to bigger and better things,not part of a learning process.watered down belts mean sod all

Yeah but now you're contradicting yourself. You're firstly unhappy with it being a watered down title, and then the fact a watered down title is being contested by two fighters not worthy of a world belt. Who's fault is it? Joshua's or the IBF's?

The IBF may well be a discreditable organisation, and I too was irritated when Fury was forced to vacate the belt, but to suggest that the IBF did this as favour to their 'pal' Hearn, is somewhat delusional. I for one am not going to concern myself with the legitimacy of this belt, as it's hardly the end point of his journey. The fighter is the key point, and him being a step in the right direction, the belt is just an added incentive.

We're all aware of the IBF's reputation as a boxing organisation, but what are you going to do? Complain about it until you're blue in the face? Are you really going to be that concerned that Joshua is fighting this fight? The IBF need to manage their own reputation, but until they do, things like this will happen.

I wasnt alleging that hearn has been dealt a favour by the ibf,he just has a special relationship with them

So what are you suggesting then? 'Cause Joshua wasn't made mandatory for the fight, so as far as I'm concerned they have made the fight independent of the IBF's influence.

[Bard of Boxrec]

The title is irrelevant but sadly it's going to be bigged up, Joshua will be paraded as the heavyweight champeeeeen of the worrrrrld and casual sports fans tuning in are going to get confused about Fury.

Hopefully all that to be put right when Joshua gets round to crushing Fury

[Crazyboy]

Some miserable bastards in here at times. Love him or loathe him, he's had 15 fights. He's a novice and this is an early step up. Martin is a bit of an unknown quantity as it stands. He was dong pretty well against Glazkov though at the time of the stoppage.

Peopl called for a step up in opponent, this clearly is, and now it's here they find a reason to slag it off. We all know Fury is the champ, I have no doubt Joshua himself knows this. Ignore the IBF trinket that's attached to this and just enjoy seeing a Briish fighter taking a risk early in his career.

This x 2.

So many 'experts' with comments designed to show how 'knowledgeable' they are on here. Its a joke etc haha, jokes on them...its a good fight!! get over it!

If this is Joshua's next fight, its a great one!! regardless of what people think of the belt or the politics...its a great fight?

In fact I think some on here are 'too' in the know sometimes

[SMALL AXE1]

AJ is getting knocked out. You heard it here 2nd.

Bruno Vs Witherspoon II.

[Finn]

I think it is a 50/50 fight should be a fun match.

[blanca]

The heavyweight scene is awful,much worse than the 80s which was derided until Tyson vame along.Can you imagine what a Tubbs or Tucker,let alone a prime Iron Mike would do to big stiff josh and charles martin? Bruno would bang em both out in the same night.

[JimJim2009]

The heavyweight scene is awful,much worse than the 80s which was derided until Tyson vame along.Can you imagine what a Tubbs or Tucker,let alone a prime Iron Mike would do to big stiff josh and charles martin? Bruno would bang em both out in the same night.

Lol at the tucker and tubbs comparisons. That sentence would make more sense with the names foreman and Frazier in there. Tucker would have run away from Joshua and tubbs would have come in several stones overweight. I am not convinced by Joshua but come on.....