By: Ken Hissner
The UK’s Anthony Joshua, 16-0 (16) scored a pair of second round knockdowns to capture the IBF heavyweight crown from Americas “Sir” Charles Martin, 23-1-1 (21) in the second round. Martin couldn’t beat the count on the second knockdown though taking it on a knee.
The O2 Arena in London was packed with thousands as the Gold Medal Olympic champ Joshua fulfilled his promise to end the fight within three rounds. It was a Showtime event.
“I first want to thank God and my parents. I give Martin credit for coming over here to defend his title. I’m humble and know I need to improve on each fight ahead and thank all the fans for supporting me. I now have ¼ of the titles,” said Joshua. The UK’s other champion is Tyson Fury who holds both the WBC and WBA titles.
In the co-feature the Wales boxer Lee Selby, 23-1 (8), retained his IBF featherweight title coming off the canvas in the second round to easily in his second title defense over Eric “Outlaw” Hunter, 21-4 (11), of Philadelphia.
Hunter couldn’t put Selby away after the knockdown and was simply outpunched most of the remainder of the fight. He did more posing than punching and at the end he knew it.
In the seventh Hunter landed a right to the chin and Selby’s left glove touched the canvas but the referee called it a slip. Hunter landed a solid left hook and right hand to the chin of Selby. Hunter was warned for landing low blows.
Throughout the fight Hunter comes in low and Selby lies on top of him. Hunter will wrap his left around the head of Selby pulling him down into a head lock. In the eighth round Hunter lost a point for a low blow. In the ninth round the referee called the cut-man into the corner and not the trainer and told him to tell Hunter who showed his disgust and not facing the referee after another low blow warning one more time and he will be disqualified.
In the tenth round Hunter is obviously behind with the second round the only one he took without a doubt. Selby landed a good right to the head while Hunter landed a nice left uppercut to the midsection. Hunter did the wind-up with his right hand which usually a winner does and looks like he knows he’s behind. In the eleventh instead of going for the needed knockout he is posing to counter while Selby was landing punches.
In the twelfth and final round Hunter looks desperate trying to land the left hook again. He gets warned for a head butt. Hunters either out of gas or has accepted defeat. Selby landed one of the rare combinations for either fighter with the right hand knocking Hunter back a step or two. It was Selby’s second defense. Once again a Philadelphia fighter steps into a championship fight and fails. Last month it was “Hammerin” Hank Lundy. The two Philly “bad boy’s” couldn’t make the grade. Only Danny “Swift” Garcia remains the only Philly champ.
Scores were 116-110 twice and 115-111. DHB had it 116-111.