McGuigan Warns Joshua To Avoid Charles Martin, For Now

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former world champion Barry McGuigan, who manages and promotes such fighters like super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton, says rising British superstar Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15KOs) should avoid a fight with IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin.

Martin captured the vacant IBF world title last month when he stopped Czar Glazkov in the three rounds at the Barlcays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Joshua stopped domestic rival Dillian Whyte in seven rounds last December in London. He is scheduled to return back to action in April.

There are ongoing discussions for Joshua and Martin to face each other. Things are reportedly going well between the two sides.

McGuigan says Joshua should pull back a few steps and continue to polish his skills before moving forward to a world title fight.

"Joshua is a fantastic prospect but he must steer clear of a world title shot because he may well pay a heavy price down the line. Anthony Joshua’s handlers describe it as a gamble. You can say that again. If Joshua were my fighter I would steer clear of a world title shot for now. The newly minted IBF heavyweight champion, Charles Martin , is not the finished article himself," McGuigan told The Mirror.

"It is a measure of the value and interest in Joshua that Martin’s man, Al Haymon, has reached out across the Atlantic. It also tells you he thinks Martin can win. Joshua is a great kid and a fantastic prospect but he is not ready to rule the world yet. If he got past Martin, which he well might, he then has to defend against fighters who, with the necessary ­experience, he would have a better chance of beating down the line."

In the big win over Whyte, McGuian felt Joshua was still making mistakes which could hurt him against Martin or other top fighters.

"I thought he would get rid of Dillian Whyte in two rounds. It took him seven and not without being seriously discomfited. On that night at least he was too stiff, easy to hit and could not see left hooks. He still makes fundamental mistakes which against any half decent heavyweight would be his downfall," McGuigan said.

"Far better to work on his short comings now, tighten defensively, get his head moving more. I understood Joshua was close to a deal with Malik Scott, which makes far more sense to me. Why put at risk what looks to me a brilliant future? It only takes one big punch to alter the course of a career."