By Edward Chaykovsky
Former two division world champion David Haye is fully backing Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs to get an early knockout win over IBF heavyweight world champion Charles Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs).
Martin captured the vacant IBF championship last month at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with a third round stoppage win over the previously unbeaten Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov of Ukraine. The title winning effort was the Showtime televised co-feature to Deontay Wilder's defense of the WBC world title against Artur Szpilka.
Martin vs. Joshua was officially announced by promoter Eddie Hearn on Sunday, and takes place on April 9 at the O2 Arena in London.
After watching some tape on Martin, Haye is confident Joshua will blow him away early. Most of Joshua's opponents were knocked our in the early rounds. The longest and toughest fight of Joshua's career took place last December, when he was extended to the seventh round by unbeaten domestic rival Dillian Whyte. Joshua was rocked early, but weathered the storm to secure a vicious seventh round knockout.
Haye will follow in his own path to a world title shot, hoping that it leads to a major unification with Joshua at some point in 2017. Haye returned last month, after more than a three year layoff, and knocked out Marc De Mori in the first round. Haye is scheduled to fight once again on May 21 and plans to have at least two more fights before the year is out.
"Great news about Anthony Joshua fighting Charles Martin for the IBF world title. Just watched Martin and I predict AJ by early KO," Haye stated on the social networks. "You have to admit once AJ wins the IBF [belt], Eddie Hearn should be truly commended for the perfect guidance of AJ’s career. Credit where credit is due. Crystal Ball tells me - myself and Anthony Joshua will clash in unification bout in 2017. Massive nights of boxing in UK over next 2 years."
