Anthony Joshua vs Charles Martin

[LoadedWraps]

I've watched all the fights I could dig up on Martin, I've also watched Joshua's last 5 fights and a couple others. I can't really make a call on this but I can make a case for both fighters winning.

Martin has went the distance a few times and has a good % of ko's in the later rounds, I haven't seen him lose many rounds in any of the fights I've seen and he looks sharp in the later rounds, doesn't appear to tire at any point in his fights. He seems to work on reflexes and counter punch, he just reads guys well and tries to throw sharp and accurate punches with both hands. I think Martin is a bigger, slower David Haye in style at distance but that is where the similarity ends.

Joshua has rushed out and pummelled guys and hasn't really sharpened any boxing skills or learned to pace himself like Martin has. His sheer size and power have been enough to get the job done very much like Wilder in most of his fights. After landing a stiff jab he just closes in and opens up, most of the guys haven't been good enough or big enough to cope with this and have been finished early. Joshua has very plodding footwork and no head or lateral movement, he doesn't box on his toes like Martin or Klitschko either or hasn't shown it as of yet, his reflexes and timing are not as good as a result, he doesn't look as sharp.

I think if Martin can use his size and lateral movement as a defence, and time Joshua whenever he is in distance, he can outbox him in the early rounds and take Joshua into deep water. I believe him when he said he gets stronger as I've seen him still looking good or better in the later rounds. If it goes past 6 I think Martin will Ko him in the later rounds. If Joshua catches him and backs Martin up into the corner or the ropes then we know what will happen, Joshua will let go and could finish him, Martin needs to survive these exchanges and counter to stop Joshua trying this, preferably not get caught or hurt to begin with. Joshua's best chance is to finish him early because he won't beat Martin with the jab or relying on boxing from distance.

I heard David Haye saying that he was told from trusted sources that Martin doesn't lose rounds in sparring, I don't think Joshua will outbox him and win rounds from what I've seen.

I'm going to go for Martin by Ko around round 9.....But I'll hold my hands up if joshua does manage to Ko him early. It's his only chance and 1 punch could turn it around at any tiime

Great post, thanks for this assessment. I need to go watch more fights of both fighters as well. I already was both favoring, and rooting for Martin, but now this confirms my choice a little bit more.

[Vinnykin]

Great post, thanks for this assessment. I need to go watch more fights of both fighters as well. I already was both favoring, and rooting for Martin, but now this confirms my choice a little bit more.

Martin is no mug. Joshua fans that have watched his last 15 fights have got used to seeing him just plod forward and smashing guys and so they think it's going to happen again, they think he's unbeatable. Martin is a big dude with good timing and reflexes and he'll catch Joshua if he just plods forward trying to land his jab with no head movement or feints like in his previous fights.

I have already put £50 on Martin to win at 7/1. I personally want Martin to win as well just from his personality, he seems like a cool guy, speaks his mind and I can support someone like him that takes chances like this. If he beats Joshua he has a fan in me....even though I'm British I'd like to see the Joshua hype train derailed and It would be good to have 1 serious American HW champion as Wilder is going to lose his next fight Imo.

[ianjamsie]

I've watched all the fights I could dig up on Martin, I've also watched Joshua's last 5 fights and a couple others. I can't really make a call on this but I can make a case for both fighters winning.

Martin has went the distance a few times and has a good % of ko's in the later rounds, I haven't seen him lose many rounds in any of the fights I've seen and he looks sharp in the later rounds, doesn't appear to tire at any point in his fights. He seems to work on reflexes and counter punch, he just reads guys well and tries to throw sharp and accurate punches with both hands. I think Martin is a bigger, slower David Haye in style at distance but that is where the similarity ends.

Joshua has rushed out and pummelled guys and hasn't really sharpened any boxing skills or learned to pace himself like Martin has. His sheer size and power have been enough to get the job done very much like Wilder in most of his fights. After landing a stiff jab he just closes in and opens up, most of the guys haven't been good enough or big enough to cope with this and have been finished early. Joshua has very plodding footwork and no head or lateral movement, he doesn't box on his toes like Martin or Klitschko either or hasn't shown it as of yet, his reflexes and timing are not as good as a result, he doesn't look as sharp.

I think if Martin can use his size and lateral movement as a defence, and time Joshua whenever he is in distance, he can outbox him in the early rounds and take Joshua into deep water. I believe him when he said he gets stronger as I've seen him still looking good or better in the later rounds. If it goes past 6 I think Martin will Ko him in the later rounds. If Joshua catches him and backs Martin up into the corner or the ropes then we know what will happen, Joshua will let go and could finish him, Martin needs to survive these exchanges and counter to stop Joshua trying this, preferably not get caught or hurt to begin with. Joshua's best chance is to finish him early because he won't beat Martin with the jab or relying on boxing from distance.

I heard David Haye saying that he was told from trusted sources that Martin doesn't lose rounds in sparring, I don't think Joshua will outbox him and win rounds from what I've seen.

I'm going to go for Martin by Ko around round 9.....But I'll hold my hands up if joshua does manage to Ko him early. It's his only chance and 1 punch could turn it around at any tiime

He rushed out to pummel Whyte because he personally hated the guy.

He only stepped in on the other fights when he noticed their legs buckle.

Martin fights with a low guard and is shorter. His head movement his too amateurish to get away with that against a far more experienced fighter (like Joshua is).

Plus Martin has been fighting at a very low level.

[ianjamsie]

Great post, thanks for this assessment. I need to go watch more fights of both fighters as well. I already was both favoring, and rooting for Martin, but now this confirms my choice a little bit more.

I'd watch how they both fought Love first.

Joshua strolled about the ring and almost dislocated the guys head. In the 2nd.

Martin rushed in arm punching him in the 10th.

[Evil_Meat]

I'd watch how they both fought Love first.

Joshua strolled about the ring and almost dislocated the guys head. In the 2nd.

Martin rushed in arm punching him in the 10th.

You must be new to boxing if you think that triangle theory means anything.

[ianjamsie]

You must be new to boxing if you think that triangle theory means anything.

Watch the fights. You will see the wide skill, power and quality gap.

Martin's lazy defence and low guard is perfect for Joshua.

[Fury4daWIN]

Great post, thanks for this assessment. I need to go watch more fights of both fighters as well. I already was both favoring, and rooting for Martin, but now this confirms my choice a little bit more.

I'm not sure I quite share VinnyKin's assessment, but Martin is definitely not getting the respect he deserves. Rewatching the Glazkov fight I noticed that Martin was completely dominating the fight and giving Glazkov no opportunities at all. Maybe the tide would have turned had the injury not occurred, but the fact that he was able to perform like that at all against an experienced pro has to lend him some degree of credence. It's a shame the fight ended as it did, as I think Martin could have legitimately beaten Glazkov (barring another horrendous robbery) and we'd all be giving him a much greater chance now.

[LoadedWraps]

You must be new to boxing if you think that triangle theory means anything.

Well said. Truer words never spoken.

[Teddy05]

I'm not sure I quite share VinnyKin's assessment, but Martin is definitely not getting the respect he deserves. Rewatching the Glazkov fight I noticed that Martin was completely dominating the fight and giving Glazkov no opportunities at all. Maybe the tide would have turned had the injury not occurred, but the fact that he was able to perform like that at all against an experienced pro has to lend him some degree of credence. It's a shame the fight ended as it did, as I think Martin could have legitimately beaten Glazkov (barring another horrendous robbery) and we'd all be giving him a much greater chance now.

Winning behind a jab is a lot easier when you are the bigger man. Martin wont be able to do that against joshua, or any decent sized heavyweight

[Teddy05]

This is going to be funny. As soon as Joshua knocks Martin clean out everyone here picking Martin will call him a bum and say it doesnt mean anything for AJ as martin has never beaten anybody