Undefeated heavyweight challengers Charles Martin and Vyacheslav Glaskov will fight for a vacant heavyweight title on January 16 in Brooklyn. It will be the second heavyweight championship bout on the card, with WBC champion Deontay Wilder headlining the bout against an unknown Artur Szpilka. For Martin and Glaskov, it’s an opportunity to not just earn a belt, but to score big paydays in the near future.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Vyacheslav Glaskov -160
Charles Martin +130
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Glaskov is the higher-ranked contender, which speaks to his status as the clear favorite. Martin is a good fighter, but largely untested against the division’s elite. If the lines shift at all, I’d expect the Ukrainian to move further into chalk territory.
THE LEAD-IN
Glaskov, 31, is a native of Ukraine who now resides in south Florida. He earned the right to challenge Tyson Fury, who beat Wladimir Klitschko on Nov. 28 to win a handful of world titles. But Klitschko exercised his right to an immediate rematch, leaving Fury unable to make the mandatory defense.
Fury stands to make millions more for rematching Klitschko than fighting Glaskov, who has a fraction of the name value. Because the new heavyweight champ has elected to face Klitschko again, Fury was stripped of the IBF belt. Martin, the next leading contender, was tabbed to face Glaskov instead, with the vacant IBF belt on the line.
“I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and finally getting my opportunity to fight for a world title. I want to thank everyone who helped me get to this place in my career,” said Glaskov.
Martin, 29, hails from Carson, California. He was originally supposed to face 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale on December 12, but pulled out because of the opportunity to fight for the belt. Because he was already in the midst of a training camp, he should be in fight shape in time for the January 30 scrap with Glaskov.
Martin’s manager, Mike Borao, said this bout is especially meaningful in the wake of the death of Michael King, who was Martin’s former promoter. King passed away in May.
“This is really realizing Michael King’s dream,” Borao stated. “This is everything Michael wanted. It’s not only Charles getting this title shot - it’s like Michael’s too. Charles’ career has Michael’s fingerprints all over it and couldn’t have gotten where we are without Michael. I know Charles will win the fight for Michael.”
THE EARLY PLAY
At first glance, this appears to be Glaskov’s fight to lose. He’s been on a tear recently, beating respected heavyweights like Tomasz Adamek, Derric Rossy. Martin hasn’t been facing the same caliber of competition and is taking a big step up to fight the Ukrainian. There is a clear gap in talent between the two, and Glaskov should walk away the victor.
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today! Glaskov-Martin takes place on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The card will be televised on Showtime.
