Oleksandr Usyk remains unbeaten in the professional ring after 23 contests and 12 years since starting his campaign, but one man thinks he has what it takes to end that run.
Few fighters today, or in any era, have been as successful as Usyk. The Ukrainian southpaw excels in all departments – ring IQ, athleticism, heart, determination and skill.
He is a naturally small heavyweight but that hasn’t stopped him from beating Derek Chisora, Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua twice over 24 rounds, and now Tyson Fury also back-to-back.
Usyk’s professional career comes on top of a fine amateur campaign which ended with him winning a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012, which means he has pretty much completed boxing.
Despite this, speaking to iFL TV, highly-ranked heavyweight contender Martin Bakole thinks he has the beating of the great champion.
“Me and my coaches have been telling people this a long time. People know the only people who can give Usyk problems now, not just give him problems but knock him out is Martin Bakole.
“Usyk’s manager has been live on Sky, he came behind my camera on Sky and said this guy is a future world champion ’cause he saw me in the UK sparring Usyk, Usyk knows himself and his team, they know Martin Bakole’s a beast. As soon as I jump in the ring I don’t care who you are or what you’re doing, I want to take your head off.”
Bakole, who scored an impressive KO win over American prospect Jared Anderson last time out, has his hands full right now with an ordered fight against Ajagba. Should he win that, he will be mandatory for IBF World Champion Daniel Dubois but has already called out the likes of Anthony Joshua.
