Sport

Charles Martin says he is ‘guaranteed’ to beat Joshua

The American believes the addition of a conditioning coach will see him prevail

Anthony Joshua and Charles Martin during a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel, London. Photo: Steve Walsh/PA
Thu Apr 07 2016 - 16:47

Charles Martin believes the addition of a conditioning coach to his team has "guaranteed" victory over Anthony Joshua when he makes the first defence of his IBF heavyweight title in London on Saturday.

The American will be the underdog when he faces Joshua at The 02 Arena, even if it represents only Joshua’s 16th professional fight, and largely because he is considered similarly inexperienced.

Joshua fought at a considerably higher level as an amateur, and has been the recipient of the finest facilities and support since turning professional with Matchroom in 2013.

Martin, in contrast, has largely been a little-known figure until meeting Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant IBF title in January.

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Only for the first time has his training set-up been supported to the level expected of a world heavyweight champion with the addition of conditioner Garry Matthews, who has previously worked with NFL players Brandon Hughes and Marlon Lucky.

“My strength and conditioning coach, he’s a really awesome guy, I take my hat off to him,” said Martin, 29. “You definitely guaranteed a win in this fight, because that’s something I ain’t ever been on, a different level, a whole new level.

“I was just ready to take on another level to my boxing. Earlier on in my career, I incorporated strength and conditioning in my boxing, and then I wasn’t feeling good.

“I was feeling more lethargic and tired. When I’d go to spar I couldn’t. I was complaining a lot. I didn’t want to do it.

“This thing (my IBF title) works wonders. ‘Hey, I’m a world champion, I’m up for the challenge of anything, strength and conditioning I’m going to make look easy’. They better respect my power.”

Such a significant alteration to his preparations no doubt represents a risk in what is the biggest fight of his career, even in a week when insults between Joshua and Tyson Fury regarding each other’s figures has given the subject of conditioning greater attention.

Meanwhile Joshua, asked if he could trust himself to avoid the naive mistakes he made when fighting with emotion almost led to defeat by Dillian Whyte in December, the 26-year-old, who is yet to fight a southpaw as a professional, responded: “Probably not. I’ll probably go out there and try and take his head off.

“I’m a fighter, I’m not going to go in there to dance around and evade punches, I’m going to take two (punches) to give five.

“But if I have to show some technical ability as well, I’ll do that. Charles Martin possesses some tricks I’m going to have to overcome.”