How Nigerian-British Boxer Joshua thrashed Martin to win world heavyweight IBF with second round Knock-Out!
Anthony Joshua vs Charles Martin :
How It Happened!
As Joshua crowned world champion with second round KO
Joshua takes his shot at glory with second round knockdownCredit:
PA
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua made light work of Charles Martin to claim the IBF world
heavyweight title, sending the defending champion to the canvas twice in
round two before the referee brought a swift end to the fight.
The new IBF heavyweight champion of the world, Anthony Joshua.
Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
Some doubted if this fight was the right move for Anthony Joshua - originally from Nigeria and has been made the British public proud by winning, Olympic Gold medal for Britaiin and had his last 15 fights prior to the shot at heavyweight tittle challenge and won all on knock-out, apparently worried that the challenger could be found wanting for experience or
ability, thrust into a world title fight so early in his career. Those
doubts were fading within seconds, and before long they were
extinguished completely.
Anthony Joshua had the champion on the back foot immediately, testing
him with a series of early right-handers. It seemed only a matter of
time before he connected, and when he did – less than 60 seconds into
round two – the fight was over. Charles Martin was sent to the canvas, a
look of incredulity across his face.
The champion barely beat the referee’s count, and seconds later, he
was back on the deck, thanks to another clinical right hander. It was an
underwhelming defence, but that was at least in part down to a calm,
composed start that gave Martin nowhere to go, allowing his raw power to
get the job done with breathtaking speed.
All else aside, Anthony Joshua has become a world heavyweight
champion in 16 fights and 34 rounds. Believe the hype.
Updated
Tyson Fury hasn’t been slow to respond:
I should add that Martin looked unhappy after that second count, and
there are suggestions he miscounted. I don’t think it would have
mattered a great deal either way.
Anthony Joshua speaks!
“Every heavyweight has power, but it’s about speed. I showed him
levels, I said I would. There’ll probably be some negativity, people
saying Martin was easy, but a few days ago he was this big dangerous
southpaw”
“I don’t take nonsense from no-one, but I’m humble... all the hype is
good for everyone in boxing. Get behind every boxer, not just myself.
They’ve been calling me out since last year… I’m going to keep grinding,
keep working… when I step into the ring, I’ll be ready”
Are you listening, Tyson?
I
And the new heavyweight champion of the world. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuter Charles Martin’s face, sitting up on the canvas after walking
straight into that first right, was an absolute picture. He’d never
taken a punch like that in his life, and there was no coming back.
Martin won the belt in three rounds, and lost it in two.
Martin, feels the power.
Anthony Joshua is the IBF heavyweight champion of the world!
The O2 is an absolute cauldron, every Joshua hit drawing a huge roar.
Early in round two, a right hand from Joshua connects – and Martin is
down! He looks totally dazed, barely beating the count... and Joshua
pounces instantly, ruthlessly, to send the champion back to the floor. The referee ends the fight inside two rounds!
Joshua connects with a massive right hand. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
and it’s all over for Martin. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Seconds out, round one... Joshua in the blue corner,
Martin in the red. The referee, Belgium’s Jean-Pierre van Imschoot,
brings the fighters together to touch gloves. It’s on!
Joshua moves with a left jab, and misses with a right-hander. Martin
is reluctant to step in, keeping his left raised. He has an advantage on
range, but Joshua is cautious too. A right-hander does connect, and
another, exploiting Martin’s upright stance. A couple of swings from
Martin, and Joshua lands another right! A tentative start, but that’s Joshua’s round.
Joshua connects with left. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
Both fighters look, in truth, a little nervous as the anthems are
played out. This is one of those great boxing occasions; a fight that’s
easily the biggest of both men’s careers. Who will emerge happy and
glorious? There’s only one way to find out...
Joshua, ready. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
AJ, like Robin van Persie and Michael van Gerwen before him, is
getting the full Seven Nation Army treatment. Sports crowds do know
there are other songs, right?
Here comes Charles Martin... the defending champion is greeted with a hail of boos. He’s wearing a crown! Martin wins the ringwalks, hands down.
Here comes Anthony Joshua... In
a white robe, to the tune of Mo Money, Mo Problems. It’s a disarmingly
casual entrance, in keeping with a guy who plays Fifa the night before
fights.
AJ prepares for the walk. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Updated
Joshua is on his way to the ring for London’s first heavyweight title fight in fifteen years. It’s time!
Joshua is shadow boxing away in his dressing room. David Haye,
alongside Audley Harrison in more convivial circumstances than usual,
reckons if Martin can take Joshua beyond six rounds, he can cause some
problems. Haye and Harrison both call the fight for Joshua, early. I’m
inclined to agree; Joshua in four. Predictions, anyone?
Audley Harrison, haunting Joshua’s big night like the ghost of
Olympic gold past, reckons Martin’s southpaw style won’t cause Joshua
too many problems.
Joshua's post match interview is a
gem. He says, with one belt out of four, he is only a "quarter of the
way there" and that he has to go off and do some pad work in the
dressing room now.
Britain's ninth heavyweight world champion
Britain has two heavyweight champions
Britain, with Tyson Fury and Joshua, now have two heavyweight world champions.
World champion
Martin acknowledges the new champ
Joshua is IBF World Heavyweight champion
Joshua lives up to the hype...he's champion!
Over before it began
Joshua's fifteenth win inside three rounds.
Round two and over
Joshua v Martin: Round 2 KO - Joshua wins
Josha gets in a few early tags
Another few early hits sneak in from Joshua, as Martin looks unsure.
Martin is down
Martin's down. Huge hit.
he gets up. But...he goes down again almost straight away.
It's over
It's over! The ref has stopped it.
Joshua v Martin: Round 1
And we are ready to go.
Ready to rumble
Can Joshua deal with the southpaw? Here we go. Martin in gold (very tight) shorts and Joshua in white (and sparkly) ones.
Round one action
A tentative early start as both feel each other out, circling the
ring. But Joshua gets in a couple of nice rights. Not clean hits, but
they'll give him confidence.
Martin seems less sure of himself and that would likely go to Joshua on the cards.
Here's tonight's referee
Tonight's referee
Belgium's Jean-Pierre Van Imschoot will handle the bout.
The anthems are sung, booed and cheered
The King bounces along to the Star Spangled Banner. To be fair, it was played VERY fast.
Martin during the US anthem
The King is in the building
Now this is an outfit:
Long live the king!
The King was here
Joshua comes in with Diana Ross blaring
To a Diana Ross sample (from Notorious B.I.G), in comes Anthony Joshua, looking resplendent in a white, silky robe.
Joshua rocks a silky robe
It wouldn't be boxing without...
Will Joshua go for early KO?
All the expert talked on
television, Twitter and in the papers that morning seemed to believe
that Joshua needs to end this early, with his chances diminishing as the
fight goes on.
Moments to go
The atmosphere is building and the music is blaring at the O2.
Joshua in the dressing room
David Hayes has just said that if
this fight doesn't end early, Joshua is in for a rough ride and that
Martin is possibly a more accurate puncher. Hayes adds Joshua really
needs to go for it in early rounds.
Joshua, ready. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
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