British boxer Anthony Joshua celebrates after winning the IBF heavyweight title bout between US boxer Charles Martin and British boxer Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday, April 9, 2016. AP
LONDON, England—Anthony Joshua stopped Charles Martin inside two rounds to snatch the IBF heavyweight belt off the American in only his 16th professional fight on Saturday.
With two knockdowns in the second round at the O2 Arena, Joshua secured a crushing knockout victory that means Britain’s Olympic champion holds the leading amateur and professional heavyweight titles.
“I ain’t going to get too carried away,” Joshua said after stopping Martin 92 seconds into the second round. “I’ve got to keep on improving. I’ve got David Haye calling me out, Tyson Fury calling me out.
“I need to improve if I’m going to maintain and keep pushing at a higher level.”
The 29-year-old Martin (23-1-1) won the vacated belt in January, and this was his first defense, and the first loss of his pro career.
The IBF title was previously won by Fury against Wladimir Klitschko, but the Briton was stripped of it for refusing to make an immediate defense. Fury tweeted that Joshua “looked slow ponderous, & still looked like a bodybuilder, let me slay the lamb.”
“I will keep on grinding,” Joshua said. “Keep on working hard.”
The 26-year-old Joshua is the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title while being the reigning champion in Olympic boxing’s top weight division of super-heavyweight. Muhammad Ali was the Olympic light-heavyweight champion when he beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champion, in his 20th fight.
Almost four years after Joshua claimed gold for Britain at the London Olympics, the venue was different in the capital but there was the same raucous home support to see another dominant victory by the humble fighter.
Martin had made a brash arrival in the ring, sporting a bejeweled crown but his bravado was not matched by his performance against the younger, more clinical contender.
After being dropped by Joshua in the second round, Martin got back up but was immediately grounded by another Joshua right. This time, Martin didn’t beat the count.
All 16 of Joshua’s wins since his pro debut in 2013 have been by KO.
“I come to knock people out,” Joshua said. “It’s about speed and precision.”