Oddschecker has Anthony Joshua at 2-9 and the IBF World Champion Charles Martin at 9-2 for their title fight. Is this just UK money forcing down the local fighter's odds, or a fair reflection of their respective chances? Personally, I think the odds are crazy.
The hype is doing it Cyc. Personally I think 1/2 would be fairer at this stage of his career but having said that, if Martin wasn't this default world champ he would be the ideal sort of test for Joshua at this stage in his career anyway-it just so happens to be for the IBF belt.
Hey Toppy mate. I know the local push is huge for Joshua, but to date he's not really beaten anyone. Whyte was a big step up for him and gave him his hardest test to date. And Dillian is several classes below Glazkov who broke down against Martin. Forgetting the third round when the fight was stopped when the Ukraine man did in his knee, the fight was close. The cards had the bout tied after two. 19-19, 18-20, 20-18. Glazkov went in as the IBF 1, while Martin was IBF 3. AJ has huge potential, but has not come within a sniff of a fighter who's as good and as fit as Martin. Look my friend, I'm going out onto the further edges of the limb, and say that Martin will retain his title. I'll probably be the only person on the forum to say AJ will be beaten, but if anyone has ever seen my tipping, they'll know how crap I am when it comes to forcasts.
My opinion is that the difference between ranked #10 and ranked #1 in the heavyweight division is minimal. That's why Joshuas promoters have had no option but to fast track (but fast track the easier way- Martin is not as good as Fury/Klitschko/Wilder et al). This is heavyweight boxing and AJ is learning in the spotlight. He could get knocked out at any time. It happens. It happened to Lewis. it happened to Tyson. It happened to Ali. The one thing I am certain of is that in 5 years time, only one fighter will be the clear best of the bunch and that is Anthony Joshua. People say he's beat no one and they are right. But Wlad Klitshko spent ten years beating no one. There is no one. Too many fat lager drinkers have been in the division and it's been a long time since we had a proper heavyweight athlete in the division. David Haye doesn't count because he isn't a true heavy and he bullies small and slow heavyweights. If this fight with Martin wasn't for the IBF title they wouldn't be making a fuss and they'd call it another test and part of the learning curve. Just enjoy the Joshua ride and watch the kid develop. Hell have to dust himself off somewhere along the way and it won't be a failure if he loses- it's the likelihood of heavyweight boxing. But the division will reignite as a result of this and it's been a long time coming. Maybe April isn't his destiny, maybe it is. It'll happen for him though- and in my opinion the day he loses is the day he'll become the most dominant heavyweight in the division.
Well it looks like the Guillermo Rigondeaux shuffle goes on. The man considered among the best pound for pound fighters in the game, has again been side stepped, this time by Carl Frampton. The WBA ordered The Jackal to take on Rigo but that probably won't happen . In fact Frampton has two mandatory challengers on his hands now that he has two belts and it seems that he'll turn his back on the other as well. There's a very real chance that he'll vacate both the WBA and IBF Super Bantamweight straps, and move up to Featherweight to fight three time world champion, and reigning WBA titlist Leo Santa Cruz, in what promises to be a mega seller.
Someone said recently that Joshua reminds them of Frank Bruno; very similar styles. Haven't studied him that much but I can see some resemblance. Bruno, very upright and orthodox with a big punch. I think Joshua may get exposed in similar fashion too.
It's just been released that David Lemieux has failed the weigh-in. He was contracted to make 162 but came in at 165.6. James De La Rose has refused the fight saying that he didn't feel comfortable spotting extra weight. They tried offering him extra cash, but he refused, and the commission wouldn't allow a late substitution. Maybe Lemieux hasn't been putting in the hard yards. I'm a Lemieux fan, but this is a shocker. This bout was the main event, and deserved better that what he and his camp offered up. I hope as he walks away, he'll feel the full weight of a hefty financial kick in the arse.
Disgusting when fighters don't make the weight, there's absolutely no excuse for it. Unless you've come in as a late replacement for a fight then it's not like boxers don't have enough time to get their weight right
Spot on smokey. Is there any penalties they incur for that? Suppose it depends who the governing body is over each fight? Crazily frustrating for fans and opponent who no doubt will have grinded his bollocks off in preparation. I know I've been reluctant to award Anthony Joshua the praise plenty are already lauding him but he seems an absolute beast at training and just keeping himself in tip top condition. Not scared of the hard hour after hour in the gym. Can't imagine him and Hatton heading out on the beers and kebabs like Ricky did between his fights Surely not good for the body long term that either, though I'm certainly no expert!!
If the fight had gone ahead Lemieux would have had to pay some of his purse to the other fighter but now the fight isn't happening I'm not sure if there's any punishment to be honest. If there isn't then there definitely should be some sort sanction in place. With regards Joshua I think that if this fight wasn't for a version of the world title then people would be saying he's fighting just another nobody. I've not seen much of Martin to be fair maybe just a hand full of fights but I've not seen anything that makes me think he's going to be anymore of a challenge to Joshua than Dillian Whyte was. I think the only way Joshua loses is if he beats himself, he showed some indiscipline and immaturity against Whyte and at some point that will cost him. I think it's a fight even Eddie Hearn would have struggled to sell had it not been for the title
Surprised Cyc you ain't mentioned the Browne Chageav fight with the Aussie prevailing? Decent dust up. Chageav certainly didn't finish like a fighter who puts too many hard hours in anyway I'd probably fancy Joshua to beat yer man Browne if they had a fight tomorrow so on that line of thinking he isn't far from the top of the game at this stage.
So David Haye has revealed he is having talks with Lucas Browne about a fight on 21st May (my birthday as it happens) at the o2 in London
Looks like David Haye is desperately trying to talk Big Daddy Browne into filling the other half of his O2 fight night in late May. With Browne's belt on the line, Haye thinks that there will be millions in it for both of them. But Big Daddy ain't so hot on the idea. Maybe he fears Haye, who knows. In all honesty, Brown would probably be beaten. That aside though, in the lead up to the Chagaev title fight, Browne signed an undertaking o fight Fres Oquendo if he took the title. Matt Clark of Hatton Promotions is of the opinion that Browne will fulfill his obligations, and give Oquendo his shot. Haye could end up with Shannon Briggs or Malik Scott according to Boxing News.
The angriest little man in the world, South African Hekkie Budler has lost his Minimumweight WBA and IBO belts in a real upset in Gauteng. Nicaraguan Byron Rojas eked out a unanimous points win, with all judges giving him a 115-113 verdict. Budler controlled a lot of the fight, but seemed to tire in the last few rounds. If he'd won an extra round, he would have retained his titles. Budler has now lost only two of his 14 title fights. Chances are that Budler will now have to move up a division as he only just made weight for this bout. He was right on the 105 pound Strawweight limit. He once held the Junior Flyweight title before stepping down a division and claiming the Minimumweight belt in 2011. Interesting times ahead for Hekkie.
Just when I thought I had a new hero in boxing, Big Daddy falls on his face ... big time. The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association has notified Browne that his title pre- fight sample has returned a positive finding to Clenbuterol. He's consulting legal folk. People have been using the contaminated food defense. Cyclist Mick Rogers used it to get off as did members of the 2011 Mexican football team. 109 players from the under 17 FIFA World Cup of the same year also beat the charge. Alberto Contador wasn't so lucky. Big Daddy has his arse in a sling.
There few people in the world as naturally talented as Adrian Broner, a four division world champion. But the man is his own worst enemy. He who calls himself the "Problem," is a fighter who often cares little for the opinion of others, including those who stand in his corner on fight night. Time and again he's told his trainers that he's the man and only he knows what it takes to get the job done. It's a thinking process that's seen two titles ripped from his hands in the past. Teddy Atlas is now in his corner and he thinks he's beginning to turn things around, but who knows. The problem is that it seems that Broner might only have half a brain, for it appears that the "Problem's" problems might actually exist outside the ropes as well as inside them. According to court documents, it's alleged that after midnight on January 21, Broner managed to get himself into a high stakes betting duel with another man at a bowling centre in Cincinnati. The "Problem" was clipped for thousands of dollars and didn't take it too well. When the other guy finally said that he'd had enough and was about to hit the door, Broner beat him to the exit, and waited for him outside. "The champ" put one into the man's face and another into his neck, nearly knocking him cold. He then went to his automobile, retrieved a hand gun, and again confronted the man. He again punched his victim in the face, rendering him unconscious. It's alleged that Broner then went through the man's pockets, took the cash and scarpered into the night. It appears that Broner has been charged with felonious assault and aggravated robbery and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The defense of his WBO World Super Lightweight Title against Ashley Theophane on the first of April, might now be in doubt. The courts will have the final say. Dickwad.
