By Edward Chaykovsky
Olympic gold medal winner Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15KOs) will attempt to win a world title when he challenges IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (23-0-1, 21KOs) at The O2 Arena on April 9, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Joshua is already being called the best British heavyweight since Lennox Lewis, who also won Olympic gold. Lewis unified the entire division and retired on top in June of 2003.
Former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs challenged Lewis for the WBC heavyweight belt in 1998. He had Lewis in some trouble in the early rounds, but the champion eventually floored him three times for a stoppage win in the fifth.
Briggs arrived to the UK last week and he's creating a lot noise with the British media. He started walking the streets, city to city, in a failed attempt to confront former two division champion David Haye. He called for a fall showdown with unified champion Tyson Fury. And he also wants a crack at Joshua.
Very few will be surprised if Briggs shows up at the O2 to confront the winner of the IBF title clash.
He's not sure if Joshua is capable of reaching the level of Lewis, but says the undefeated Olympian - should he capture the title - must raise his level of competition by fighting all of the top contenders.
"I think that's a lot to ask considering the fact that Lennox had a very extensive amateur career," said Briggs to Sky Sports. "He sparred Mike Tyson as a youngster. He had a lot of experience. I don't know Anthony's background, his experience, but that's a tough act to follow, but at the same time I think he'll do great.
"If he wants to be the next guy that Great Britain looks at as the great champion, he's going to have to take on all contenders, including myself. He's going to have to step up to the plate."