Anthony Joshua is the new IBF heavyweight champion of the world. In what was a promotional masterstroke by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, Joshua was navigated to being a world title challenger at 15 - 0 and became world champion with an impressive record of 16 wins and 0 losses, each win by way of deft KO.
Joshua defeated American Charles Martin with a second round stoppage. Martin became IBF champion when he fought Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant belt (which the IBF stripped Tyson Fury of as he had agreed a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko rather than facing his mandatory) and Glazkov was unable to continue due to a knee injury in the third round. Not a KO, not a points decision where Martin dominated Glazkov for 12 rounds, but an injury. With no disrespect to Martin, he was effectively gifted the belt in underwhelming circumstances. And while we knew very little about him, what we did know suggested he would be no different in level to Joshua’s previous opponents rather than someone who was a bona fide champion on world level.
As soon as Joshua claimed the W and the title from Martin, the casuals (whose presence I welcome within the sport), and even some hardcore boxing fans, were out in force on social media. Joshua was giddily proclaimed as the second coming of Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson in his prime. Meanwhile, little regard was given to Joshua’s opponents to date in supporting their assertions.
The hype around Joshua is nothing new and as a boxing fan I think he’s a beast of a fighter with phenomenal power. He’s also seemingly on course to establish himself as one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world. Nonetheless, I would still maintain that even as champion Joshua is yet to experience an actual test.
This isn’t Joshua’s fault. He can only fight who is put in front of him and he cannot be blamed for the division still suffering from a paucity of fighters at world class level. Furthermore, he’s despatched his opponents in impressive fashion. So with a record of 16 - 0 and as IBF champion, where does Joshua go from here?
As a PPV fighter, there’s no turning back for Joshua in term of levels. He’s world champion and his subsequent fights will need to be with fighters that the public deem worthy of being PPV. The public won’t be accepting of paying £17 to see Joshua KO fighters who never stood a chance or were even capable of putting up a decent fight. And as is the nature of the British public, especially the casuals, it could be the undoing of Joshua’s popularity if his level of opponent isn’t deemed to rise and promptly.
That poses the question of who Joshua’s future opponents could be. Who could satisfy the public’s thirst in fights that Joshua and his team would be willing to take? Indeed, they will have little choice but to consider these options if they want him to be perceived as a credible champion henceforth.
Looking back at Joshua vs Dillian Whyte, Whyte came to fight and honestly believed he could beat Joshua. Had his conditioning and accuracy been improved, he may have done just that in the second round when he rocked Joshua with a left hook but was unable to capitalise on his brief yet effective onslaught. Whyte was in no way intimidated by Joshua and while he met defeat via Joshua’s power, he at no point feared it. Joshua therefore needs opponents that not only maintain that attitude but are also worthy of being considered world level. Herein lies a problem as there aren’t many fighters in the heavyweight division who meet both those stipulations.
With the exception of Whyte (but inclusive of Martin), Joshua’s opponents have been taken in by the hype around Joshua himself. There’s an aura around Joshua and his trademark power, which leaves his opponents overawed, sapped of confidence and mentally having lost before the first bell. For a meaningful test, Joshua needs opponents that turn up to fight with a belief that not only can they win but also a measured respect rather than fear of his power.
Of the current crop of heavyweights at world level, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and David Haye would possess that attitude and make for an even fight. Added to that, they all have the ability to make a match with Joshua a 50-50 fight unlike those on his record to date. Though while Joshua himself may want those fights, his team may want to develop him further and keep him away from anyone that poses a threat to taking the ‘0’ on his record. Indeed, even Joshua with his affable candour, has admitted that he is still learning and will probably appreciate the risk they pose too.
The aforementioned fighters all have at least one fight already scheduled before they’d be free to take on Joshua but they all represent live opponents and cracking fights. Fury would show no respect for Joshua’s power and be uber confident having beaten Wladimir Klitschko. He’s also already called out Joshua and established some needle between the 2 fighters. Wilder too brings his own ferocious power and confidence. And Haye, subject to how good he still is, possesses experience, explosiveness and speed that none of Joshua’s opponents to date have shown. The question is, is Joshua ready for those fights and how long will an impatient and fickle public be willing to allow him until he is?
For now, Joshua is the new IBF champion. He’s achieved the title within 16 fights, via 16 KOs, and he should be lauded for his achievement. Let’s not detract from that as he’s responded to the tests that have been placed before him en route to the title and he cannot be asked to do anything more than that. Although in return for his fasttracked journey to the title, his next steps will need to be bigger and more impressive strides than he has taken thus far. And in contrast to his previous opponents, he’s likely to find that it’s much tougher at the top.
Joshua defeated American Charles Martin with a second round stoppage. Martin became IBF champion when he fought Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant belt (which the IBF stripped Tyson Fury of as he had agreed a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko rather than facing his mandatory) and Glazkov was unable to continue due to a knee injury in the third round. Not a KO, not a points decision where Martin dominated Glazkov for 12 rounds, but an injury. With no disrespect to Martin, he was effectively gifted the belt in underwhelming circumstances. And while we knew very little about him, what we did know suggested he would be no different in level to Joshua’s previous opponents rather than someone who was a bona fide champion on world level.
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As soon as Joshua claimed the W and the title from Martin, the casuals (whose presence I welcome within the sport), and even some hardcore boxing fans, were out in force on social media. Joshua was giddily proclaimed as the second coming of Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson in his prime. Meanwhile, little regard was given to Joshua’s opponents to date in supporting their assertions.
The hype around Joshua is nothing new and as a boxing fan I think he’s a beast of a fighter with phenomenal power. He’s also seemingly on course to establish himself as one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world. Nonetheless, I would still maintain that even as champion Joshua is yet to experience an actual test.
This isn’t Joshua’s fault. He can only fight who is put in front of him and he cannot be blamed for the division still suffering from a paucity of fighters at world class level. Furthermore, he’s despatched his opponents in impressive fashion. So with a record of 16 - 0 and as IBF champion, where does Joshua go from here?
As a PPV fighter, there’s no turning back for Joshua in term of levels. He’s world champion and his subsequent fights will need to be with fighters that the public deem worthy of being PPV. The public won’t be accepting of paying £17 to see Joshua KO fighters who never stood a chance or were even capable of putting up a decent fight. And as is the nature of the British public, especially the casuals, it could be the undoing of Joshua’s popularity if his level of opponent isn’t deemed to rise and promptly.
That poses the question of who Joshua’s future opponents could be. Who could satisfy the public’s thirst in fights that Joshua and his team would be willing to take? Indeed, they will have little choice but to consider these options if they want him to be perceived as a credible champion henceforth.
Looking back at Joshua vs Dillian Whyte, Whyte came to fight and honestly believed he could beat Joshua. Had his conditioning and accuracy been improved, he may have done just that in the second round when he rocked Joshua with a left hook but was unable to capitalise on his brief yet effective onslaught. Whyte was in no way intimidated by Joshua and while he met defeat via Joshua’s power, he at no point feared it. Joshua therefore needs opponents that not only maintain that attitude but are also worthy of being considered world level. Herein lies a problem as there aren’t many fighters in the heavyweight division who meet both those stipulations.
With the exception of Whyte (but inclusive of Martin), Joshua’s opponents have been taken in by the hype around Joshua himself. There’s an aura around Joshua and his trademark power, which leaves his opponents overawed, sapped of confidence and mentally having lost before the first bell. For a meaningful test, Joshua needs opponents that turn up to fight with a belief that not only can they win but also a measured respect rather than fear of his power.
Of the current crop of heavyweights at world level, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and David Haye would possess that attitude and make for an even fight. Added to that, they all have the ability to make a match with Joshua a 50-50 fight unlike those on his record to date. Though while Joshua himself may want those fights, his team may want to develop him further and keep him away from anyone that poses a threat to taking the ‘0’ on his record. Indeed, even Joshua with his affable candour, has admitted that he is still learning and will probably appreciate the risk they pose too.
The aforementioned fighters all have at least one fight already scheduled before they’d be free to take on Joshua but they all represent live opponents and cracking fights. Fury would show no respect for Joshua’s power and be uber confident having beaten Wladimir Klitschko. He’s also already called out Joshua and established some needle between the 2 fighters. Wilder too brings his own ferocious power and confidence. And Haye, subject to how good he still is, possesses experience, explosiveness and speed that none of Joshua’s opponents to date have shown. The question is, is Joshua ready for those fights and how long will an impatient and fickle public be willing to allow him until he is?
For now, Joshua is the new IBF champion. He’s achieved the title within 16 fights, via 16 KOs, and he should be lauded for his achievement. Let’s not detract from that as he’s responded to the tests that have been placed before him en route to the title and he cannot be asked to do anything more than that. Although in return for his fasttracked journey to the title, his next steps will need to be bigger and more impressive strides than he has taken thus far. And in contrast to his previous opponents, he’s likely to find that it’s much tougher at the top.
