Beware the Underdog: Charles Martin Cannot Be Underestimated by Anthony Joshua
If you are waiting to get on board the Anthony Joshua bandwagon, I’m afraid to announce some bad news. There are actually no spaces left on the service—not even if you are willing to stand for the journey.
After 15 straight knockout wins as a pro, the Brit has everyone convinced he's the real deal. Ever since his debut it has seemed a matter of when, not if, he would become heavyweight champion of the world.
The "when" could be as soon as this weekend, as he takes on reigning IBF champion Charles Martin in London on Saturday.
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Joshua's success at the 2012 Olympic Games on home soil set him on a golden path to the paid ranks. He is a physical specimen who is all smiles out of the ring but has a nasty streak when he steps between the ropes.
In summary, he is a promoter's dream.
The hype has only increased with each of Joshua's stoppage victories. Line 'em up, he'll knock 'em out.
Some boxers struggle to get a full house to turn up for a fight at the famous York Hall in Bethnal Green, London. Such is Joshua's popularity that he managed to achieve the feat for a gentle workout on Monday:
The 26-year-old became the British and Commonwealth champion in a hurry. Now it is time to find out if he is ready to conquer the world.
Standing in his way is Martin, an American who holds an unbeaten record of his own.
He also holds a world title, as he picked up the IBF's belt when his last opponent, Vyacheslav Glazkov, suffered a serious knee injury in Round 3 of their bout in January.
Martin and Joshua have found each other at the perfect time. They are a boxing couple whose circumstances led to them coming together at the O2 Arena. For both men, the fight makes perfect sense.
The champion (23-0-1, 21 KOs) may be nicknamed Prince Charles, but he is yet to prove he deserves to reign. Like his opponent, Martin’s list of victims fails to contain a name who moves the needle.
In travelling to England, it could be seen as the southpaw from St. Louis cashing in on his newfound status.
Apart from a unification clash—or a sudden comeback from Mike Tyson—this was the most lucrative option out there for his first defence. According to Gareth A Davies' profile of Martin in the Telegraph, the trip will net him an estimated $3 million.
That’s a tidy sum of money for a fighter who has previously appeared at such venues as the BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York, the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The reward makes Martin's risk completely worthwhile. The numbers add up, even if he happens to lose.
As for Joshua, he—along with promoters Matchroom Boxing—is taking a leap of faith.
Fighting for a world title was always the grand plan, though perhaps not quite this early. He has boxed for a grand total of 32 rounds in the paid ranks. For some of his fights he must have worked up more of a sweat warming up backstage than he did during the actual contest.
After beating longtime rival Dillian Whyte in December—a fight that saw him go past Round 3 for the first time—Joshua said in his post-fight press conference, per David Anderson of the Mirror: "It's hard to come into this sport after just two years as a professional and jump to world level.
"Everyone has got a lot of expectation. The plan is still to move on to world title level, but we will do it in our own time."
The schedule has been altered so he can face Martin. Had Tyson Fury still held the IBF belt—he was stripped of it not long after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko—Joshua would not have stepped up to world level quite so quickly.
Joshua, however, should not underestimate the champion.
To start with, he will be the first southpaw Joshua has faced as a pro. The challenger has experience of facing lefties in the amateurs, most notably Roberto Cammarelle, the man he defeated to win gold in the Olympic final four years ago.
Martin is also not lacking in confidence—he has carried himself like a champion throughout the buildup, even if doubts persist over whether he can actually fight like one.
When face-to-face with his opponent for Sky Sports’ The Gloves Are Off show (h/t Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com), he said: "I'm confident I can't be beat. I'm the champ, baby. I'm going to keep on being the champ so I'm going to knock him out Period. I'm not going to call a round—when I see it, I'm going to do it."
His record suggests he can hit hard, too. Of his 23 victories, 21 of them have come inside the distance. He has a knockout ratio of 88 per cent, per BoxRec.
Martin told respected journalist Davies: "I'm like LeBron [James, the basketball player] with this. If you pay attention to him, he's a student of the game. He studies, studies, studies. That's what I do with boxing. I study how to get better. To make it easier. You want to work smarter not harder. But I still work hard."
So, Martin seems smart and skilled with the ability to change the complexion of a bout with one blow.
When you sprinkle over a little self-belief, Joshua appears set to face a foe who shares a remarkably similar profile.
Yet despite Martin’s current status, he is the heavy underdog. According to Odds Shark at the time of writing, the 29-year-old is a 5-1 shot. Yes, 5-1 against a relative novice. And he's the reigning champion.
The odds seem high when you take everything into account.
If he can avoid being run over by the Joshua bandwagon on Saturday, Martin will prove he is a serious contender, rather than just a fortunate pretender, in the division.
It should be fun to watch, however long it lasts.
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