Home Boxing News Charles Martin talks Glazkov and taking his chance

Charles Martin talks Glazkov and taking his chance

“Prince” Charles Martin stands at 6’5″, the 29-year-old is undefeated at 22-0-1, 20 KOs. On Saturday 16th, 2016, he will compete for the vacant IBF World Heavyweight title, against Vyacheslav Glazkov, at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri and promoted by Warriors Boxing. He won the 2012 National PAL Championship as an amateur. The American contender is currently ranked at No.3 by the IBF. He had been scheduled to box undefeated Dominic Breazeale in December; when the opportunity to box for a World title came up. The IBF title was stripped from new champion Tyson Fury (shortly after he defeated Wladimir Klitschko) and a contest between Martin and Glazkov was called.

Dreadlocked southpaw Charles Martin turned professional in October 2010, so has had a fast rise up the rankings to this point. On the way up he has taken the undefeated records of several prospects including Vincent Thompson, Glendy Hernandez and Alexander Flores. He has also defeated the likes of Kertson Manswell, Raphael Zumbano Love, Tom Dallas and Vicente Sandez.

It is fair to say that Glazkov represents a step-up in class and is the first contender that Martin has faced. A win would certainly bring a new dynamic, to a division that is wide-open. In a recent press conference call, here is what Charles Martin had to say on the upcoming World title fight:

On getting the title shot

Yes. I’m so thankful to be in this position and blessed to get a world title shot, and that’s what all boxers dream of. It’s finally becoming a reality to me. I’m not going to let anything stand in front of me receiving this IBF title. So I will be prepared on January 16th.

I’m up in high altitude right now. I’m in the snow. I’m running in the snow. I’m getting it, grinding with it, and it’s going to all show in the rings.

On the decision not to fight Breazeale in December

I’m glad you asked that because I wanted to do both of the fights. My team is the one that talked me out of it. I was up here making plans to do both. They’re like, yes, yes, you know, that’s right, that’s right. With the conversation with my coaches, I’m like, I can do this fight. I can get this another way. Then I’m lined up right here.

My manager and everybody else, they’re like, “Hey, this is a world title opportunity. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. You fight for a world title. So we’re pulling out. You’re going back to camp and get this belt.” I guess after a while it sunk in and it started to make sense. And I said, “Hey, you know, whatever. Let’s just do it.” Anything could happen.

You could get cut or something, any kind of crazy stuff that could have pulled me out of this fight. But I guarantee I was going to knock Dominic out. That’s automatic, you know what I mean? We know each other. I would have knocked him out, for sure.

Yes, Dominic Breazeale. I would have knocked him out.

On training after the Breazeale camp

Yes, I took a week off. I took that week off and then we got back to camp. I started back training when I was in L.A. I live in North Hollywood, so we have a gym right there. These guys they sponsor me and I got a gym right there. Me and my coaches got in there and we were hitting pads and we’re doing workouts, doing pushups and callisthenic-type of movements.

Then we got right back up here into the high altitude, man. We are in Big Bear right now. We’ve been here for a few weeks now. We’ve been up here grinding, man. We’re getting it in. I’m in perfect shape. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. I’m ready to fight.

Taking the Glazkov fight out of the judges hands

I don’t even take the time to think about those kind of things because he’s never been in the ring with a fighter like me. I’m no Cunningham. I’m no Tor Hamer. I’m none of these guys that he fought.

I’m totally a different fighter than he’s ever seen. So come fight night, I’m ready to prove it to the whole wide world. I’m ready to be that superstar. We train like superstars. If you’re going to train mediocre, you’ll be mediocre, and that’s what I see out of a lot of fighters, heavyweights, especially. But we train to be a superstar and that’s what you guys are going to see.

On Glazkov as a step-up in competition

Yes. He’s definitely a step up on paper. His resume reads well. He’s a good fighter. He’s technical, keeping his hands up and stuff like that, has a pretty nice hook. But I got to give you the ups and the downs. He’s a little guy. I’m massive, strong, powerful, elusive. He’s definitely going to be in there for the hardest fight of his life that he’ll ever have.

On the division now that Wladimir Klitschko has lost

It was going to open up eventually. Klitschko had a very good run. His whole career was outstanding. He’s an awesome fighter. But it’s our time now. There are new fighters on the map. We had big plans to knock him out as well. We wanted to knock him out and become superstars overnight. Everybody got the dream.

It’s here now, man. I get to fight for the IBF World Title. I can’t believe it. Every day I wake up. I think I’m freaking blessed. I’m fighting for a world title. This is crazy. Sometimes it doesn’t even sound right, but it’s real. So I’m going to seize the moment, definitely.

On Unifying the belts

Yes, I want it all. As soon as I get this belt, I want to unify. I want everything. I want all the hardware. Look out for “Prince” Charles Martin. I’m here to make a statement and you guys are going to see, finally. I’ve been under wraps a long time but now the world can see me display my skill. Yes, I can’t wait to unify. I want everything.

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Dibella Entertainment promote the show. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® January 16 of this new year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The show will begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME. It’s a world championship, heavyweight championship doubleheader. Deontay Wilder vs Artur Szpilka for the WBC Heavyweight title and Charles Martin vs Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant IBF Heavyweight title. In the UK it will be shown on Sky Sports 1 HD (03:00am Sun 17th).