The title Charles Martin won is lightly regarded, and so is the way he won it.
The best evidence the heavyweight championship of the world does not mean as much is that Martin is among those claiming title to the throne.
However, champion he is, at least in the eyes of the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Martin won his piece of the title — one taken from Tyson Fury — in bizarre fashion when Vyacheslav Glazkov hurt his knee and went down while throwing a punch in the third round of their fight in New York in January.
Photo: Reuters
This week, Martin is in London, where he is to defend his belt against Anthony Joshua, the undefeated British fighter, who won the super heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. The two meet on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in a crossroad fight.
“They are not talking about me, but it is coming,” Martin said. “The belt is in the right hands and we are bringing it back to America.”
On paper at least, the clash looks like heavyweight material. Both fighters are big, strong punchers who have never lost as professionals and both believe they are worthy of the heavyweight crown.
That he had to travel overseas to defend his belt is not lost on Martin. However, the chance to prove himself to doubters — and get a good payday while doing it — proved tough to resist.
“I love it. I am a performer,” Martin said of having to fight before a hostile crowd. “I am not going to worry about them. It is not like they are blocking my vision. I am going to keep my eyes on Joshua and batter him about the ring.”
British bookmakers have installed Joshua as a big favorite, though the fight might be a tough one to pick. While both fighters are undefeated, neither has fought top talent in the division and both are somewhat unproven.
That is especially true for Joshua, who is 15-0 with all his wins by knockout since turning professional.
“The bookmakers look at it as a business. They believe in me,” Joshua said. “Trust me, I am going to handle my business come Saturday. There is going to be nothing different. There is going to be no worries, no scares. They will get it right.”
While Martin holds the IBF belt, most people in boxing consider Fury, another British fighter, as the legitimate champion. Fury won his piece of the title with a decision over former champion Wladimir Klitschko, who held the heavyweight crown for a decade.
Another American, Deontay Wilder, is also unbeaten and has a title belt in a division that is suddenly getting some attention in boxing once again.
“Everybody is excited,” Martin said. “The heavyweight division is back.”
The IBF title Martin holds was actually won by Fury against Klitschko, but he was stripped of it for refusing to make an immediate defense. The title was vacant when Martin won against Glazkov.
Little had happened in the fight until Glazkov could not continue, but Martin said he was starting to dominate.
“He started feeling what I had,” Martin said of Glazkov. “The man has been walking the earth for 32 years and never slipped and broke his knee. I was the one who inflicted that on him.”
Martin said he is not so sure Joshua is as good of a fighter as British boxing fans believe.
“He was gifted a gold medal,” Martin said.
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