I'm fed up of hearing that Martin was 'not a real champion'. He, like Stiverne, won his world title due to previous holders vacating their title(s). (Fury+Vitali) Both won vacant titles, and neither managed to defend them. Joshua's route to his first World Title was just 'as good', or 'as bad', as Wilder's. The difference, and reason, that Joshua has emerged as the main man in the division is what has happened since. He has fought a World Champion who has defended his belt... He has fought a ATG who, but for his brother, would have become Undisputed... He has fought numerous opponents who have previously fought for World titles... They're the reasons why Joshua is given more respect than Wilder in the world of boxing. His results, not his nationality.
We need to see the fight between these two, Charles Martin who walks this earth like a God vs Stiverne who eats like a God, who wins?
I think Martin is better then Washington or Stiverne and most fringe guys outside top 10 ! He would be a top opponent for Wilder that's a fact , there's levels in boxing and just bc Joshua does one thing it doesn't go for anyone else.... If he can get by Kownacki he's back in the mix and also puts pressure on Wilder bc it's another top guy in the WBC that Joshua already defeated.
Basically Martin had beaten a then top 10 ranked opponent for his vacant belt (freak injury, but still), while Stiverne most certainly didn't. Both were paper champions at best, and among the weakest beltholders ever. Still, someone had to get hold of those belts after the Klits, and usually the vacant ones go towards the guys with the most influential promoters behind them and/or with the "right" nationality instead of the most deserving. Both Joshua and Wilder won belts from guys that would never had won it as they had to fight the previous owner for it, but that's the way it often goes in boxing, certainly after an era ends. Just take a look at 168 and 135 at the moment, it's like a lottery out there.
