Anthony Joshua’s promoter confirms new sparring partners ahead of title fight

Anthony Joshua's IBF heavyweight title fight with Charles Martin is less than three weeks away, and he seems to be really ramping up his preparation.

The London fighter will take on a southpaw for the first time since his amateur days, when he beat Roberto Cammarelle in the 2012 Olympic final, but a couple of noted left-handers are helping him get ready for the challenge of Martin. And promoter Eddie Hearn has namedropped a couple of the men in question - Otto Wallin and Lenroy Thomas - during an interview with Boxing News. "He’s had some great southpaw sparring. He looks really good," said Hearn, who noted that Wallin and Thomas are part of a group of "four or five" who have helped Joshua prepare for the April 9 title bout. "They fancy it so much Martin’s lot. They think they can’t lose the fight," he added. 25-year-old Swede Wallin has a 14-0-0 career record with 10 knockouts, suggesting he will be ideal to help Joshua prepare to take on knockout merchant Martin at the O2 Arena. Thomas, meanwhile, is 19-4-0 across a decade-long career, with the last of his nine knockouts coming against Jason Pauley in 2014. The 31-year-old American has a 79" reach, according to BoxRec, one inch shy of Martin.