Barry McGuigan's Martin-Joshua preview: Three reasons I worry this fight is too early for the British challenger

I said in my Mirror column when Saturday's fight was made that Charles Martin is a risk for Anthony Joshua.

My position has not changed.

Before I remind you of my reasons, I will say this: Anthony Joshua has it within his gift to fashion one of the great careers. He has explosive power , great athletic ability, a big heart, a sound temperament and the will to battle through difficult moments.

A boxer can go a long way with attributes like that.

However...

...in his victory over Dillian Whyte last December he displayed vulnerabilities that glow red at this stage of his development.

Firstly, he could not see a left hook that night. Will he be able to see a southpaw back-hand any better?

Secondly, Joshua’s musculature can be a weakness as well as a strength. He is so bulky that when he sets to throw the jab, his right elbow flicks out to tell his opponent what is coming.

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Thirdly, such is the emphasis on power, Joshua appears Frank Bruno-esque at times, a little stiff and robotic.

All of these issues can be ironed out, though.

And that is why I would have held him back a year and sent him to the West Coast to spar with the best heavies in America.

Joshua and his advisors obviously think the risk worth taking and have allegedly coughed up £6million for the privilege.

Champion Martin won the IBF heavyweight crown without having to fight anyone of note, has none of Joshua’s amateur pedigree and we don’t know how he will react in front of a partisan home crowd.

Against that, he is fluid, moves well, and stays relaxed and loose.

Like the great Larry Holmes, he will not win a Charles Atlas contest, but he has natural speed and the ability to turn over 17 or 18 stones in half a second. And that is what this game is all about.

Moreover, he is a far better fighter than Whyte, who, with all due respect, is a domestic level operator at best.

Joshua could get anyone out of there early, but if this one goes beyond halfway, as the Whyte fight did, he could be in for a difficult night.

It is not as if he needs to rush.

He is 26 years old. The dominant heavies in the division, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder , are good but not the finest vintage we have ever seen.

He could have let the division come to him instead of chasing the game.

But that’s by the by now. The cards are played.

Like everybody else, I hope they fall his way.