Will Joshua become the new Kell Brook, once he picks up the IBF Strap?

[Boxtime]

With the current IBF rankings a complete joke at Heavyweight, just like they are at 147, will Anthony Joshua beat Martin and go on to face a string of bums and mandatories like Kell Brook, or will he Unify the titles against the winner of Klitscho Fury 2 and/or Deontay Wilder.

Because if he chooses to go the Kell Brook route, his World Title is nothing but a door stopper and worthless. Being a World Champion doesn't mean anything if you don't face World Class oppostion. And with the Heavyweight division so weak at the moment, it makes sense for Joshua to face Fury, Wilder and Haye by the end of 2017!

This isn't the Welterweight Division, where you can find 10+ World Class opponents (Mind you, Kell Broke hasn't heard of them).

Also, blaming the IBF for enforcing bull**** mandatories is not an excuse Mr Hearn, you chose to fight for the belt. If you have a problem, drop the belt or win a more reputable one!

SNO Name Country
1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Erkan Teper Germany
4 Anthony Joshua England
5 Carlos Takam France
6 Joshua Parker New Zealand
7 Vyacheslav Glazkov Ukraine
8 Steve Cunningham United States
9 Andy Ruiz Mexico
10 Bermane Stiverne Haiti

[aldo5408]

Seems like TaKam is likely to face the ibf winner

[kiaba360]

Joshua has 15 fights. Honestly, he may be fighting for a belt a little too early. If he beats Martin, I wouldn't expect him to face Fury/Wilder immediately. Takam would be a fine follow-up opponent. Joshua could also fight Breazeale on NBC as the co-main to a DeGale or Wilder match-up.

[Tails]

I think he beats Martin but only time will tell if he defends the belt like a champion taking on quality opponents and those that are willing to challenge themselves....most belt holders don't though. But I still feel that unless you're willing to defend like a champion against top competition (or best available since some people duck the champion sometimes) steadily than you shouldn't be fighting for a belt in the first place. Hopefully Joshua or Martin turns out to be a champion that wants to be #1 because heavyweight is getting divided up again since Klitschko lost with Fury currently sitting on top with his recent win.

[deathofaclown]

Probably.

I don't give Brook too much hate though, his fights have been mandatories apart from Gavin, and he wanted Khan in the ring that night and this summer. Plus he had come of a career threatening injury. it is time to step it up now though for sure.

I fully expect Joshua to have quite a few mandatory defences that are easy. Thats why they went this route. Easiest way to a belt, and the mandatory guys will just be average opposition who he would probably fight anyway when moving up in class.

[techliam]

With the current IBF rankings a complete joke at Heavyweight, just like they are at 147, will Anthony Joshua beat Martin and go on to face a string of bums and mandatories like Kell Brook, or will he Unify the titles against the winner of Klitscho Fury 2 and/or Deontay Wilder.

Because if he chooses to go the Kell Brook route, his World Title is nothing but a door stopper and worthless. Being a World Champion doesn't mean anything if you don't face World Class oppostion. And with the Heavyweight division so weak at the moment, it makes sense for Joshua to face Fury, Wilder and Haye by the end of 2017!

This isn't the Welterweight Division, where you can find 10+ World Class opponents (Mind you, Kell Broke hasn't heard of them).

Also, blaming the IBF for enforcing bull**** mandatories is not an excuse Mr Hearn, you chose to fight for the belt. If you have a problem, drop the belt or win a more reputable one!

SNO Name Country
1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Erkan Teper Germany
4 Anthony Joshua England
5 Carlos Takam France
6 Joshua Parker New Zealand
7 Vyacheslav Glazkov Ukraine
8 Steve Cunningham United States
9 Andy Ruiz Mexico
10 Bermane Stiverne Haiti

Teper, Takam, Parker, Glazkov, Cunningham, Ruiz and Stiverne are solid contenders, whats the problem with these rankings? Cunningham is the weak link there really, but only 1

[Ray*]

Hopefully not. It's not like the HW is stacked anyways.

[FrankieClutch]

Joshua has 15 fights. Honestly, he may be fighting for a belt a little too early. If he beats Martin, I wouldn't expect him to face Fury/Wilder immediately. Takam would be a fine follow-up opponent. Joshua could also fight Breazeale on NBC as the co-main to a DeGale or Wilder match-up.

This is exactly what I was going to say. I expect something like Breazeale, Arreola, Stiverne, Chisora types for a couple of fights. Win or lose against Martin, he's not quite ready for Fury, Wilder, Povetkin, or Klitschko

[kiaba360]

This is exactly what I was going to say. I expect something like Breazeale, Arreola, Stiverne, Chisora types for a couple of fights. Win or lose against Martin, he's not quite ready for Fury, Wilder, Povetkin, or Klitschko

Beating Martin, Takam and Stiverne would make 2016 a coming-out year for AJ. Then he could fight Breazeale, Chagaev/Browne and Wilder/Fury in 2017. He needs to beat Martin first before he can go any further.

[FrankieClutch]

Beating Martin, Takam and Stiverne would make 2016 a coming-out year for AJ. Then he could fight Breazeale, Chagaev/Browne and Wilder/Fury in 2017. He needs to beat Martin first before he can go any further.

I agree wholeheartedly.