I like Joshua and Martin, but I object to this "world" title fight now

Good fight... I see no reason to complain.

 

Good fight but its a stripped gifted belt

 

This contest, I don't call it a fight, is all about ppv money. Joshua might get 500k mugs paying 20 quid for this. Hearn must be perusing ferrari catalogues as I type.

 

eh... whoever wins the IBF becomes more legitimate by default.

If Joshua wins then he has at least a 'solid' name on his resume and he took the belt, if Martin wins then he has a solid defense and the belt becomes stronger by virtue of that.

Either way we boxing fans should be happy that this fight is happening regardless.

 

I'm just glad the fight is happening. I'm not gonna get annoyed about what might or might not happen a year or two down the line. Neither of these guys should be looking past the fight.

 

Most "world champions" are actually just "belt holders". It's sad but it's the way it is. I'd rather fighters were honest and say "I'm not ready yet" rather than make excuses and talk a lot of **** they can't and won't back up.

 

i agree but its not joshuas nor martins fault that the ibf stripped tyson fury .....

 

Titles mean F all.

It's just a bargaining chip to get more pay in future bouts.

Fury said it best. They can take all the belts off him, hes still the man who beat the man. Or somethin like that

 

Agreed, I am relieved Martin has gone for such a big fight for his first defence. I was fully expecting him to cherry pick his next 2 or 3 fights like Wilder did but fair play to him for providing us with a fight that's worth watching.

 

Well Martin's already showing more ***** than Wilder. I give him a lot of credit for taking this fight for his first defense. This fight alone adds a bit of credibility to the title. Really can you view the WBC title anymore seriously than IBF at the moment? I mean seriously, look at how the WBC handled things after Vitali stepped away... That disgraceful tournament which saw Stiverne as champion after beating Arreola twice... Which he of course lost to Wilder in his very first defense, and now Wilders started his own bum of the month club.

Yes it's silly to view this as a title fight, but at the same time the fact that it's such a good fight with two top notch heavies adds a bit of legitimacy to the belt despite the fact the belt was unjustly ripped away from Fury. I'll consider the winner to be a far more legit champion than Wilder.

 

I get what your saying, it's bad enough we have Wilder facing C level fighters in title defences, having another title holder doing the same would be a shame.

But there is a difference between Wilder and AJ. Joshua is a novice and needs the time to develop while Wilder had been a pro for more than twice as long and had more than double the fights when he became a title holder. It's understandable as to why they would want to bring Joshua along more slowly and get more experience before facing Fury. It's not an ideal situation but understandable, Povetkin did the same needing more time before enforcing his mandatory with Wlad.

Also I don't think Joshua would be facing opposition as bad as Molina, Duhaupas and Szpilka if he wins the IBF belt. He was looking to face Takam in an eliminator so Hearn thinks he's ready to face decent level opposition. Takam would make an acceptable first defence if Joshua wins the belt.

Also the alternative to this fight is likely Martin facing the weakest opposition available to him, until he faces a mandatory like Wilder has done.

 

Where has Hearn or Joshua said they 'fear' Tyson? I've not read that quote. You have said they have 'openly stated' this, but they haven't. They have said Joshua isn't ready for Fury and that's just being honest. He isn't ready. But he's not fighting Fury, he's fighting Martin. Should the IBF have stripped Fury? No it's a travesty but that's not AJ or Hearn's fault. I don't get your point, to be honest.

 

I don't get your point. There are 'world champions' in most divisions that aren't 'the man', too many belts thats just how boxing is nowadays.