Martin Bakole issues warning to Anthony Joshua
Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) calls out Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) following the two-time unified champion’s emphatic second-round knockout over Francis Ngannou.
Joshua’s electric performance took place last Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Brit putting himself in-line to challenge for the undisputed crown.
However, Bakole looks to leapfrog the winner of Fury vs Usyk, claiming that Joshua has been ducking him.
On IFL TV, he said: “To knock Ngannou out, yeah, he done well. Ngannou done well in MMA, but not in boxing.
“In the top ten, I am there. So if you want to fight in the Congo, in Nigeria, in Africa, he should fight me, not Ngannou.
“I need to make it clear: Anthony Joshua, come and fight in Africa with Martin Bakole. Stop running!”
Bakole comes off an impressive fourth-round stoppage win over French veteran Carlos Takam last October in Riyadh.
But this came after he had already announced himself on the world stage back in 2022, when he outpointed Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka in the Frenchman’s back yard.
While being the first to defeat Yoka as a professional, Bakole has perhaps given his rivals more of a reason not to fight him.
He has shared countless rounds with Joshua in sparring over the years, and clearly feels confident enough to compete at the highest level.
But, with a growing crop of heavyweights hovering beneath the surface, the 30-year-old might stand a better chance by staying active before facing one of the big names in the division.
Eying a homecoming in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are plenty of opponents that would make for a mouthwatering matchup.
He is currently ranked number one with the WBA, though, which means that his promoter, Ben Shalom, will be keen to navigate him towards a fight with minimal risk.