LONDON (AFP) – Anthony Joshua has his eyes on a future showdown with Tyson Fury after winning the IBF world heavyweight title on Saturday with a sensational second-round knockout of outclassed American rival Charles Martin.
British Olympic champion Joshua, 26, said a bout with Fury was now inevitable but it won’t happen just yet as he is being lined up by promoter Eddie Hearn for a first title defence at Wembley on July 9, the same night rival world heavyweight champion Fury is due to meet Wladimir Klitschko.
Joshua floored American Martin twice with right hands to the jaw in a win that earned him the International Boxing Federation title in front of 20,000 fans at the O2 Arena in London.
Martin, who was making a first defence, was blown away three months after he won the title and became Joshua’s 16th stoppage victim from as many professional fights.