Carl Froch exclusive: Four-time world champion backs Anthony Joshua to beat Charles Martin
Carl Froch has told talkSPORT he is backing Anthony Joshua to beat Charles Martin this weekend, and claim the IBF world heavyweight title as his own.
The 26-year-old Englishman is fighting American Martin in London on Saturday, looking to win his 16th career fight, and become Britain’s sixth heavyweight world champion.
Martin, 29, won the title in January, beating Vyacheslav Glazkov, who went down injured in the third round and was unable to continue the fight.
This is his first defence of the title, and despite the southpaw being the more experienced of the two boxers, four-time world champion Froch is backing Joshua to claim the title.
Speaking to Drivetime, the former super-middleweight claimed that he is backing ‘all-round’ better fighter Joshua.
Froch said: “Josh is going to do the business. He’s the next big thing.
"I’m behind him because he’s my mate, but putting personality and friendship aside, and trying to not be biased, I just think Josh is the all-round better fighter.”
However, Froch has suggested that doubts remain about the Englishman, with his endurance and stamina coming into question due to his size.
“He’s built like a weightlifter, like a muscleman, and that’s not endurance,” the 38-year-old added.
“That’s anaerobic, not aerobic. He’s got explosive power, he can punch hard and he’s fast for an amount of time - but not over 12 rounds.
“There’s so many unanswered questions going into this fight with Martin and Josh, and that’s what, for me, is intriguing.”