By: Matthew N. Becher
Charles Martin is a twenty-nine year old undefeated (22-0-1 20KO) heavyweight contender who will put his record to the test on January 16th, live on Showtime at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY for the IBF heavyweight championship of the World. Martin has only been boxing professionally for a little over 3 years, but has impressed with his power punching style, and now he will have the honor of fighting for one of the most prestigious awards in all of sport against former Ukrainian Olympic Bronze medalist and also undefeated Vyacheslav Glazkov (21-0-1 13KO)
Martin was kind enough to take time to speak to us about his upcoming fight, while wrapping up and putting on the final touches to his west coast training camp.
Boxing Insider: How long have you been boxing, and how did you get into the sport?
Charles Martin: I started boxing when I was 19. Just training though, I did not start competing until I was 22. I was in California at the All American Heavyweights Boxing School, so once I got into that, I then started competing as an amateur.
Boxing Insider: So you are relatively new to the sport. How did you get into it so late?
Charles Martin: Well, I was training when I was 19, so I was pretty familiar with the training. It only took me two months from when I came to California to get my first amateur fight. I already knew the steps, and how to box. I just wasn’t competing, I just had to get over the fact that, we are getting into an actual fight now.
Boxing Insider: And from you competing at 22 as an amateur to now, seven years later at 29 you are about to fight for the IBF heavyweight title, that is a pretty fast pace, wouldn’t you agree?
Charles Martin: Yeah, definitely. But it has been consistent. I tied Mike Tysons record (with active fights) for my first year of being a professional. I fought every month, my first professional year. So, I’ve been consistent and definitely putting in the work. In the amateurs I never turned down fights, I went to every tournament, every show fight, just trying to get as much experience as I can. I know I don’t really have the love for the sport that maybe most fighters do, but I’m just in it for the money.
Boxing Insider: What do you know about your opponent Glazkov?
Charles Martin: He’s a good fighter, technical, keeps his hands up. He’s been aggressive in his past fights, walking his opponents down. He has a lot of amateur experience, bronze medalist from Ukraine. He’s gonna come to fight, and that why I’m up here right now preparing.
Boxing Insider: This seems like a step up fight for you. What advantages do you have over Glazkov?
Charles Martin: I’m a Super Star Man! (Laughs). That’s the best way I can put it. I train to be a super star, so this is very, very different. If you train to be mediocre, you are going to be mediocre.
Boxing Insider: So this is actually a step up fight for Glazkov?
Charles Martin: Yes Sir.
Boxing Insider: Recently Tyson Fury has shaken up the whole heavyweight division by beating Klitschko. The belts are being split up and everyone is getting a chance to grab a piece of the crown. Besides yourself, who are the best heavyweights out there?
Charles Martin: There is only a handful of great fighters in every era. So I’m looking at maybe 5 or 6 of us right now in the division. I’m looking at Deontay Wilder, myself, Antony Joshua, Tyson Fury, possibly Lucas Browne, definitely Luis Ortiz. It’s a few of us and that’s gonna be good money fights. When we break everybody down and eliminate all the excessive weight or “baggage” you will see us at the top and that’ll be the money fights, and that’s what I’m in for.
Boxing Insider: And that is what You want, you want these elite fighters?
Charles Martin: Oh yeah! Cause it wouldn’t be right if we left the sport and never challenged each other. That wouldn’t be right at all, how would that look. If me and Joshua never fought, if me and Wilder never fought. That would be crazy. We could mix that up and everybody could get a piece of everybody. And we could make the heavyweight division pretty fun for this new era.
Boxing Insider: On January 16th, when you win that belt are you going to be calling to fight the winner of the Main event, the WBC champion?
Charles Martin: Oh yes sir. We want a unification. I’m not looking too far ahead, I’m not the one that does that. But I will let you know, that is what would be the next step. But for right now it is all Glazkov. 100% focused on the task at hand.
Boxing Insider: You are currently on a twelve knockout winning streak. Is that how you expect this fight to end….do you look for the knockout?
Charles Martin: Ya, we’re heavyweights! Nobody wants to see heavyweights go the distance like Mayweather and all the little guys. Fans want to see big guys knock each other out. We’re the modern day gladiators of the sport.
Boxing Insider: This is a 12 round fight, your first, and you’ve only been 10 rounds once in your career. Are you prepared to go 12?
Charles Martin: Most definitely. I condition myself mentally, and my will. I’m seasoned, ready to take this to the next level if need be. But I don’t ever really plan on going the full 12 rounds. Like I said, this is the heavyweight division. We are guys with power, 250 pounds plus, you supposed to get in there and give the people their money’s worth. People come to see you, so you give them what they want to see, a show and a knockout.