Wednesday 16 March 2016 15:07, UK
Trainer Peter Fury believes Charles Martin will upset the odds and successfully defend his world title against Anthony Joshua.
Fury trains WBA Super and WBO world champion Tyson Fury (25-0-KO18) and unification bouts appear to be an inevitability if the Mancunian can repeat his November 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko in their rematch.
Martin (23-0-1-KO21) is the current IBF holder and although Joshua (15-0-KO15) has opened a clear favourite to become world champion on April 9 - live on Sky Sports Box Office - in just his 16th professional fight, Fury has words of caution.
He told Sky Sports: "I think differently. I think it's a hard fight for AJ. It's not an easy [fight] for him. He needs full credit. He's had 15 fights, is very raw still and has a lot to learn as far as I can see.
"The potential is there. He can definitely box, he can fight. He's a talent but like I said, I think it's early. I'd have to favour to Charles Martin, to be honest. This is boxing and anything can happen.
Where can AJ go? He's on pay-per-view now and needs to fight good opposition, so why not go straight in to the lion's den and fight for the world title?
"It's for an IBF world title. Where can AJ go? He's on pay-per-view now and needs to fight good opposition, so why not go straight in to the lion's den and fight for the world title? He could beat Martin - I'm not saying he can't.
"For me, Martin is a stiff test for Joshua. Make no mistake. Martin is relaxed and slick. He punches accurately. He's tall, he's southpaw and he can box. This guy isn't someone you're going to hit and isn't going to hit back. AJ will be in a serious contest with this guy.
"I've seen Martin box Tom Dallas, which was not much when you look at it, and I saw him against Vyacheslav Glazkov, but he certainly knows what he's doing. Is he a supreme world champion? I can't say that because I haven't seen enough of him but he looks OK to me and he's no pushover."
Martin won the vacant title - stripped from Fury - when a knee injury forced Glazkov to withdraw from their January 16 bout in the third round.
