BoxRec

expe wrote:

keirw wrote:

expe wrote: Not yet, his last fight showed that he isn't. He's closer than Hughie because of his amateur background and he's fought better opposition up to now, but he's by no means the finished article and realistically needs at least 3-4 more fights before he's properly ready to step up to that sort of level.

You don't think Joshua would beat Martin?

I'd give him a good chance of beating Martin, who right now it's fair to say is yet to prove either way whether or not he's genuinely a world class fighter. But there's no need to rush him and there wouldn't be the clamour for it if it wasn't for Camp Eddie's gob, better to take their time, let him learn as he goes on and iron out some of the issues he has, which are numerous, so that he can step up to world level when the time is right and not only win, but be able to continue winning. He might well be capable of beating Martin, but who's he going to fight next and who will his mandatory be? Is he ready not just for Charles Martin, but the opposition that holding a world title brings? I'd give him a good chance of beating Wilder next too and he'd get his hands on a world title if he did, but would then have to fight Povetkin and he's not ready for that yet.

GodOfBoxing wrote:

expe wrote:

keirw wrote: You don't think Joshua would beat Martin?

I'd give him a good chance of beating Martin, who right now it's fair to say is yet to prove either way whether or not he's genuinely a world class fighter. But there's no need to rush him and there wouldn't be the clamour for it if it wasn't for Camp Eddie's gob, better to take their time, let him learn as he goes on and iron out some of the issues he has, which are numerous, so that he can step up to world level when the time is right and not only win, but be able to continue winning. He might well be capable of beating Martin, but who's he going to fight next and who will his mandatory be? Is he ready not just for Charles Martin, but the opposition that holding a world title brings? I'd give him a good chance of beating Wilder next too and he'd get his hands on a world title if he did, but would then have to fight Povetkin and he's not ready for that yet.

expe wrote:

daviddee wrote:It's a voluntary so no problem he would easily be moved to top ten. Hughie would beat Martin with ease and is more than ready. His sparring has moved him on a lot faster. Should go watch him spar Steve Cunningham. I know they pushed to get the fight when Tyson had to vacate. In saying that I think Martin will fancy his chances against Chisora

Not quite as easy with the IBF, they have their faults but they do stick to their rules and won't just move a fighter into the rankings because the champion wants a voluntary against him. He's a 21 year old prospect who's fought one fighter inside the top 100 in the world, he's nowhere near ready to fight for a world title, if we were talking about the British title then I'd agree but he's a long way from world level, regardless of who the champion is. If they tried to get Hughie in to fight for the vacant title then they're absolute idiots and wasted their time, the IBF always offer the fight to the two highest ranked fighters, then go down the list from there if someone turns it down, there's no chance of an unranked fighter getting a shot like that.