ANTHONY JOSHUA WINS IBF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE WITH STUNNING 2ND ROUND KNOCKOUT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Apr 2016
In only his 16th fight as a pro, Anthony Joshua won the IBF heavyweight title with a stunning 2nd round stoppage of Charles Martin at the famed O2 Arena in Britain.
Joshua who won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the London Games, added a world title to his gold medal after dethroning the American champion with another explosive early win.
Sky Sports in Britain said ?Joshua had risked his golden reputation in just his 16th fight, but his high-stakes challenge against Martin proved shrewd and could be rewarded with lucrative future fights against the likes of Tyson Fury and David Haye.?
Joshua walked to the ring in white robes in a tribute to his childhood idol Muhammad Ali while 'Prince Charles' Martin made his entrance to the arena with a crown on his head, but he would lose his confident swagger and the title within just six minutes.
Sky Sports reported that Joshua ?waited patiently before unloading his heavy artillery, edging into range on his front foot, and then fired out a right hand that rocked Martin's head back while another swift straight right sent Martin scuttling backwards and he briefly became entangled in the ropes as Joshua menacingly moved after his ungainly opponent.?
Robbed of his confident smile, Martin could only reply with a solitary left hand, and the bell offered him a few welcome seconds of respite.
But Joshua would not be denied for long and brought a dramatic halt to the action in the second round.
Sky Sports said ?a booming right hand ripped through Martin's defenses, dropping him heavily to the canvas, and he looked shocked by the power of his opponent.?
Martin clambered to his feet, only to be floored again by that ferocious right, and his defiant smile could not disguise his unsteady legs and the referee signaled the start of Joshua's reign as champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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