Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole is looking to get his career back on track.
Until this year, Bakole was gaining plenty of momentum in the ring while talking himself up to be the most avoided heavyweight on the planet – and many believed it.
The Congolese fighter has had 24 contests, with big wins against the likes of Tony Yoka and Carlos Takam before, most impressive of all, a knockout victory over the much-hyped American knockout artist Jared Anderson in August 2024.
However, disaster struck in February when he stepped in as a last-minute opponent against Joseph Parker to replace Daniel Dubois.
Bakole was flown in a short notice, just hours before the first bell, not in camp and out of shape. Parker stopped him inside two rounds.
Bakole quickly returned to action at the start of May against Efe Ajagba but was, most feel, lucky to get a majority decision draw after 10 rounds.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Frank Warren suggested he was open for his man, ‘the next heavyweight king,’ Moses Itauma to take on Bakole next.
“Let’s do it. Absolutely. Until the big guys come along, Moses is learning but every fighter is learning on the job. Daniel Dubois would say he is learning in the gym and he’s fighting for the undisputed, so as long as you’re learning it doesn’t mean you can’t go and do the business against some of the big guys at 20 or 30 years old. If Hrgovic or Bakole presents itself at some point this year we’ll grab it with both hands.”
When Itauma was asked by Box Nation if he was confident he would stop a fully fit Bakole, he said:
“100%.”
Itauma has won all 12 of his contests so far, ten of them by stoppage, including Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach. This past weekend in Glasgow, he blasted out Mike Balogun inside two rounds in yet another impressive KO.
Martin Bakole has since responded, telling Seconds Out that Itauma’s team is ‘making a big mistake’ by calling his name.
