Anthony Joshua to challenge Charles Martin for IBF heavyweight title on April 9

One of boxing's top rising stars will take the next step.

Anthony Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from England, will challenge Charles Martin for the IBF heavyweight title on April 9 at the O2 Arena in London, it was announced Sunday. Joshua already is a massive draw in the U.K., with his most recent bout, a knockout victory over Dillian White, drawing approximately 400,000 pay-per-view buys overseas.

"Fighting for the heavyweight world title has been a dream of mine since I turned professional," said Joshua, 26. "I feel privileged to have the opportunity to turn that dream in to reality. Not only that, having the chance to fight for it in my hometown at The O2 and live on Sky Sports is unbelievably exciting.

"Charles Martin is a great fighter and a hungry competitor so I am going to have to produce the performance of my career to claim that belt."

Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs) is regarded as one of the weakest world champions in history. He won the vacant title when Vyacheslav Glazkov suffered a serious knee injury during their Jan. 16 bout, and will be a decided underdog vs. Joshua. The 29-year-old Martin, at 6-foot-5, is a southpaw, though, and will only give up one inch in height.

Martin was stepping way up in competition with the Glazkov assignment, and although he appeared to win the first two rounds, it's hard to take anything away from a bout that lasted less than three rounds.

"I told my team I wanted the best challenger possible for my first defense and Anthony Joshua's name kept coming up," said Martin, 29. "I'm coming to the UK to make a statement that I am the best heavyweight in the world and no one is taking my title.

"I'm world champion, so that doesn't mean just sit back and make easy defenses in the US, it means facing the biggest challenges out there. I respect Anthony Joshua and everything he has accomplished, but on April 9 he's getting knocked out."

Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs), with his massive frame, chiseled physique and amateur background, has the potential to be the next great heavyweight. A victory over Martin won't prove that, but putting a world title around his waist will vastly increasing his drawing potential as he continues to grow.

The vacant title Martin claimed became available after Tyson Fury was stripped for going to a contractually agreed upon immediate rematch with Wladimir Klitschko. An eventual title bout between Joshua and either Fury or David Haye looms as one of the biggest in U.K. history.

There's no American television outlet for Martin-Joshua at this time, but Showtime has shown an interest in big-time international fights, especially those promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport, so it's a good bet.

(Photo of Joshua, left, by Justin Tallis/Getty Images)