Charles Martin drops and stops Daniel Martz in round 4

Charles Martin tried to move back into top-tier heavyweight territory with a strong performance against journeyman Daniel Martz.

Charles Martin briefly held the IBF heavyweight title in 2016, but soon lost it via knockout to Anthony Joshua the same year. He’s been trying to get back into title contention ever since. He’s had some highs and lows, but his display against Daniel Martz was a highpoint.

Martin and Martz found themselves in a clinch early in round 1. Martin used his straight right hand out of the southpaw stance to target Martz’s stomach. Martz tried to time Martin but failed most of the time. Martin boxed circles around Martz.

Martin went back to work to Martz’s body in the second round. He also mixed in a left hook to Martz’s head that cut him by the right eye. Martz had a resurgence as he stood toe to toe with Martin in the middle of the ring and connected with both hands to Martin’s head. Martin looked dazed but recovered well. It was a tough round to score.

Martz headhunted and missed to start round 3. He continued to overpursue Martin and got caught for his trouble. Both men looked fatigued, but Martin was the aggressor. He wobbled Martz with a combination to the head that made the crowd roar. Martz had to shake out his jaw afterward. He took the punches well, but he showed that they hurt.

Martin quickly dropped Martz with a right hand in round 4. Martz got to his feet, but the damage was done. Martin hurt Martz with a hook to the head and went down after feeling a glancing body shot. It was over. The referee saw enough.

After the bout, Martin said, “I would definitely like to fight for a title this year.”

Martin named Deontay Wilder and Manuel Charr as preferred opponents. Charr is much more of a reality than Wilder. It was Martin’s night as he showed improved footwork, strategy, and desire.