https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3by7TeAinQ
Unbeaten heavyweight title challenger Anthony Joshua is less than five weeks away from his shot at IBF heavyweight champ Charles Martin and today, speaking live with Sky Sports News, the 15-0(15) contender said he is currently engaging in plenty of heavy sparring with southpaws from Europe and America.
“A.J,” when asked if he wants a KO against Martin – also unbeaten – and whether or not a KO is important to him, replied in the affirmative.
“Yes, because I want to display my punching power and my accuracy,” the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner said. “I wouldn’t do it in a reckless fashion without composure. This will be composed and calculated. I want to show what some people call a ‘novice professional’ can do to a world champion. That’s why I want to knock him out in good fashion.”
Joshua was then asked the seemingly inevitable question: how does he feel about being repeatedly called out by fellow Londoner and former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye. Joshua said “Bring it” on that subject and said that he has to “get April 9th out of the way” but will then look at a mega-fight with Haye.
Haye, who has yet to announce his May 21st opponent (rumours say it could be none other than the vocal Shannon Briggs) has been calling out Joshua for quite a while and he recently stated how he is more than capable of knocking the younger man out inside a single round. Before British fans can begin to get excited about that prospect, Joshua must deal with Martin though.
Martin, the first southpaw Joshua will have fought as a pro, has vowed to score a KO of his own on April 9th. Plenty of fans are expecting a fast start by both unproven heavyweights, with a short and sweet slugfest a real probability. With the heavyweight division again wide open – with five men each holding a piece of the world title – there will be much more at stake than just the IBF belt in next month’s fight. Some big, big match-ups and the massive money that will be generated by them await the winner.
Joshua, if he is victorious, could take his pick from a bunch of interesting and exciting possible opponents. And Joshua made it clear this morning how he is ready for the big fights at just 15-0. “If I stay on the course that I am on, I can definitely see myself alongside some of the greats in boxing,” he said.
Charles Martin, who has big dreams himself, will be ruining a whole lot of big plans if he is able to upset the odds and retain both his title and unbeaten record next month.