Joshua wins IBF heavyweight title with second round KO
Britain's Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) captured the IBF heavyweight title when he stopped previously unbeaten Charles Martin (23-1-1, 21 KOs) in the second round on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.
Joshua stalked the defending champion Martin and landed some good rights in the opening round which moved the American southpaw backward. Martin patiently waited to counter and did land a left hand before the bell to end the first session.
But moments into the second round, Martin was sent to the canvas when Joshua connected with an explosive right hand to the chin. As soon as Martin got to his feet, Joshua followed up with another hard right which dropped him again. Martin got up but was on unsteady legs and the referee stopped the fight at 1:52 of the round.
Joshua become Britain's second reigning world heavyweight champion along with WBA and WBO champion Tyson Fury, who looks set for a future clash with Joshua if he can beat Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch on July 9.
Also on the card, IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (23-1, 8 KOs) got off the canvas to outpoint American Eric Hunter (21-4, 11 KOs).
Hunter dropped the Welshman with a left hook in the second round but from then on, Selby dominated the action with his jab and movement.
The challenger was deducted a point for a low blow in the 7th. Selby retained his title by scores of 115-111, 116-110, 116-110.
WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell (28-2-1, 13 KOs) stopped late replacement Fernando Vargas (29-10-3, 20 KOs) in the 9th round.
The Doncaster man landed hard shots to head and body throughout and dropped the Mexican to one knee in the 9th, which prompted the referee to stop the fight.
British super middleweight contender George Groves (23-3, 18 KOs) scored a 4th round stoppage win over previously undefeated Scotsman David Brophy (16-1-1, 1 KO), and Matthew Macklin (35-6, 22 KOs) outpointed Brian Rose (28-4-1, 8 KOs) by scores of 115-111 twice and 113-113, following 12 hard-fought rounds between the British middleweights.
Light welterweight Conor Benn, son of former world champion Nigel, made a winning professional debut when he stopped Bulgarian Ivailo Boyanov (2-4-1, 0 KOs) in the first round.