Wednesday 16 March 2016 15:08, UK
Carl Froch says Anthony Joshua's world title challenge is earlier than expected but not necessarily too soon...
This is a risk for Anthony Joshua, make no mistake about that.
Of course every heavyweight is just one punch away from total disaster but you have to take a gamble sooner or later and going in with Charles Martin is his.
Every heavyweight is just one punch away from total disaster but you have to take a gamble sooner or later.
Personally I think this is a little earlier than I'd expected for Joshua. When it was announced on Sunday it came as a complete surprise. We knew something was about to be announced, but I am not sure we were all expecting this in his 16th professional fight. It's not too soon, just earlier than expected.
I spoke to Joshua a couple of weeks ago and we were just chatting about what he should do next. Should he have a couple more fights, learn a bit more, then go for the world title?
The Dillian Whyte fight will stand him in good stead. That was the first time he had to deal with something different and was clipped and had to experience the sort of things that will come along.
I was a do-or-die fighter so as much as it is a gamble, and in a perfect world he could probably do with a couple more fights before jumping into a world title fight, it is a calculated risk as well. Whatever sport or business you are in, you have to take a gamble if you want to be a success.
Look at any success story, be it Simon Cowell, Richard Branson or any entrepreneur, they took a chance and it came off, and boxing is the same. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and even Floyd Mayweather had to take a gamble and won. I remember when I'd won the WBC world title, my first defence was against Jermain Taylor out in America.
That was a risk and this is a risk for Joshua. I do think it will pay off and he will become world champion, but don't think for a minute this will be easy.
Martin is clearly a big-punching heavyweight and above all he is, of course, the IBF world champion. That alone will give him plenty of confidence and self-assurance and you need that in this sport. It's not arrogance but it isn't far off.
Look down Martin's record and he hasn't really taken on any big names or serious threats, but I was ringside when he won that IBF title and I have to say I was impressed.
Yes, it only lasted three rounds before Vyacheslav Glazkov's knee went but even in that short space of time, Martin looked decent and I had him ahead.
It was going to be an interesting fight and the one thing I do remember was Glazkov couldn't get near him. He is not only a southpaw but he moved well, so we will have to wait and see just how Joshua deals with it.
Is he ready for all that on April 9? I have a feeling he is. But a risk is a risk, especially in heavyweight boxing.
