Charles Martin Aims To Shine On Klitschko-Jennings Bill
Apr 25, 2015 • 10:51 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
It was hardly an accident that Charles Martin landed on the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko's first fight back in the United States in more than seven years.
Shortly before Klitschko defends his World heavyweight championship versus unbeaten Bryant Jennings, Martin will do his best to leave a lasting impression on the main event players. The unbeaten prospect - who fights out of California these days - is tasked with the role of priming the crowd at Madison Square Garden as he faces Tommy Dallas in a scheduled 10-round regional title fight.
While his bout will not be part of tonight's HBO telecast, the fact that the network brass - and the heavyweight champion of the world in Klitschko - will be the in the building is enough reason bring his A-game.
"My promoter (King Promotions) knew what he was doing when he secured this opportunity," acknowledges Martin (20-0-1, 18KOs), a 6'3" southpaw who has scored 10 straight knockouts. "I'm sure Wladimir and (Jennings) have their own fight to worry about, but I definitely intend to put on a show for the crowd, make sure everyone remembers who I am."
A late bloomer - not putting on a pair of gloves until age 19 - Martin has hit the ground running since turning pro in 2012. Tonight will already mark his third fight of 2015, and has begun to climb in the rankings to the point of the top heavyweights forced to begin to take notice.
Despite this being just his fourth year in the pro ranks, the hope among his camp is that an active 2015 campaign ends with a shot at the heavyweight championship.
Martin is a cerebral fighter, intelligent enough to understand the politics of the sport. At the same time, it's fight likes these that he views as the chance to showcase his talents and plead his case for pushing towards the top of the queue.
"I get it; everyone wants to fight Wlad. I'm not going to be that guy that says I have to get next," acknowledges Martin. "However long it takes, I just want to keep fighting, keep improving. If I have to keep fighting every month, I'll do that."
Of course, that could change in an instance if the right opportunity did in fact come along.
"I guess whoever wins tonight - Wlad or Jennings - they have to face (unbeaten mandatory challenger) Tyson Fury. There's also (undefeated Vyacheslav) 'Czar' Glazkov," notes Martin. "So who knows, maybe a belt frees up, and I get to fight Czar or Fury, then fight Wlad (or Jennings, should he win). I'm ready for whatever presents itself, so that means beginning with my first task, a win over Tommy Dallas tonight."
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
