Martin Wants to Unify Heavyweight Titles, Starting with Fury

by David P. Greisman

Charles Martin now has one heavyweight title belt. That’s not enough for him.

He picked up the International Boxing Federation title this past Saturday, topping Vyacheslav Glazkov by third-round technical knockout to a belt left vacant after being stripped from heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Glazkov lost when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was unable to continue.

He’s now aiming to unify his belt with the other three major world titles.

“I want to fight Tyson Fury. I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I want everything,” Martin said at the post-fight press conference. “I want all the hardware, starting with this IBF right here. Tyson Fury has more belts, so we’ll take that first.”

Martin’s manager, Mike Borao, noted that Fury will have to take a contractually mandated rematch with Wladimir Klitschko first, so he thinks a bout with Wilder could come next instead.

Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, which promotes Martin, also would be in favor of that.

“Two big strong American heavyweights who punch like that. Lights out,” Margules said.

 Then again, Wilder owes a shot at mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.

It’s obviously far too early to know what Martin will do next.

“As long as the fans want it, I’m waiting,” Martin said.

“I’m going to show the world I got that fighter’s heart,” he said later. “I just can’t wait to get back in the ring.”

Martin is now 23-0-1 with 21 KOs. This title win brings him more attention than he would’ve had otherwise. He doesn’t want to bask in the spotlight for longer than necessary, though.

“I want to get this done,” he said. “I want to leave the sport how I came in. I don’t want to be messed up when I leave. I don’t want to linger around. I want to get in here, beat everybody down, get all the belts and get out.”

Pick up a copy of David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com