Nigerian-born Commonwealth boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, will challenge Charles Martin for the IBF world heavyweight title at The O2 on April 9, it has been confirmed.
Martin travels to England to make the first defence of the title that he won in Brooklyn in January against Vyacheslav Glazkov. It will be the unbeaten American’s first fight outside the United States.
Joshua has quickly turned The O2 into his boxing fortress, with five of his 15 victories coming at the London venue, including his last outing where he added the British title to his Commonwealth strap with a seventh round stoppage of bitter rival Dillian Whyte.
Charles Martin is a great fighter and a hungry competitor so I am going to have to produce the performance of my career to claim that belt.
“Fighting for the heavyweight world title has been a dream of mine since I turned professional,” said Joshua. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to turn that dream in to reality. Not only that, having the chance to fight for it in my home town at The O2 is unbelievably exciting. Charles Martin is a great fighter and a hungry competitor so I am going to have to produce the performance of my career to claim that belt.”
Martin said: “I told my team I wanted the best challenger possible for my first defence and Anthony Joshua’s name kept coming up. I’m coming to the UK to make a statement that I am the best heavyweight in the world and no one is taking my title.
