Tucker UD. Charles Martin is absolute garbage. He's a D level fighter, prime Bruce Seldon was better than him, that's how bad Martin is.
We don't know how good or bad Martin is just yet. He looks dull but he might be a very competent boxer when he's tested, or he might be rubbish. Very similar to how Tucker was before the Douglas/Tyson fights. Hardly on the radar until the IBF named him a top 2 contender and he was thrust into a fight for vacant title.
Could be, but I also have to say, he just doesn't look that great. Tucker that fought Tyson looks like he's in a different league than Martin.
Tucker also was an excellent amateur being the national Light heavyweight amateur champion. Plus he was trained in Kronk by Man Stew. Amateur Record: 115-6 1977 Ohio State Fair Tournament Light Heavyweight finalist, losing to Lee Roy Murphy 1979 Pan American Games Light Heavyweight Champion. Results were: Defeated Sixto Soria (Cuba) 4-1 Defeated Patrick Fennel (Canada) RSC 3 Defeated Dennis Jackson (Puerto Rico) 5-0 1979 World Cup Light Heavyweight Champion. Results were: Defeated Benny Pike (Australia) 5-0 Defeated Kurt Seiler (West Germany) 5-0 Defeated Albert Nikolyan (Soviet Union) 5-0 1979 National AAU Light Heavyweight Champion, defeating Andre McCoy in the final 1980 Western Olympic Trials Light Heavyweight finalist, losing on points to Alex DeLucia. Not sure what Charles Martin EVER did before getting that IBF gift wrap trinket.
I agree. And Martin might well be exposed as utterly rubbish this Saturday. But, again, Tony Tucker before fighting Douglas had not impressed anyone in the professional ranks, often looking mediocre, fighting lower league fighters. Amateur credentials aren't relevant. Audley Harrison had great amateur credentials. Pinklon Thomas apparently had 3 amateur fights. Martin might turn out to be as bad as Harrison (the great amateur), but I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Yeah but Prime Audley beat Danny Williams who beat Mike Tyson who beat Larry Holmes who beat Muhammad Ali who beat George Foreman who beat Joe Frazier who beat Muhammad Ali who beat Sonny Liston who beat Floyd Patterson.
He fought a collection of the finest fighters of all time. Price, Wilder, Williams, Sprott. A murderers row right there.
I saw Martin when he fought Glazkov and I didn't think anything of him at all. I found him devoid of skill, flabby and won the fight on size alone. I think after Saturday against Joshua this thread will be moot.
Agreed. It was an unimpressive performance against an opponent who gift decisioned his way into the top 10. I felt Malik Scott and Steve cunningham both deserved the nod against Glaskov.
Tucker had the distinction of going the distance with both a prime Tyson and a prime Lewis. The same Tyson and Lewis who were unable Ko Tucker, between them knocked out Ruddock, Bruno, Botha, Golota, and Biggs. The only other guy who has that distinction is a certain Evander Holyfield. And Tucker arguably fought better versions of both men than Holyfield did. That and Tucker could actually box, and was built like a boxer.