Former heavyweight titleholder Charles Martin made a triumphant return after a 16-month layoff, stopping Matthew McKinney in the first round Saturday night at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City, California. The bout was promoted by Patrick Ragan’s Westside Promotions.
Martin, 38, trapped the 43-year-old McKinney in the corner and delivered a devastating left hand that floored his rival. Unable to beat the count, McKinney folded into the corner as Martin showcased the power that has defined his career, much to the delight of the Bay Area crowd.
The victory improved Martin’s record to 30-4-1 (27 KOs), while McKinney fell to 17-9-3 (13 KOs).
Martin briefly held the IBF heavyweight title in 2016, defeating Vyacheslav Glazkov before losing the belt three months later to Anthony Joshua inside two rounds. While Martin is yet to fight for a title again, he turned heads in July 2023 with a gritty performance against rising prospect Jared Anderson, rocking Anderson during their 10-round fight despite losing a unanimous decision.
No official word has been given on Martin’s next move but the veteran remains a ‘name’ in a division full of opportunities.