Martin Bakole has officially taken his seat at the heavyweight top table.
The 31-year-old lived up to his reputation as being the ‘most avoided man’ in boxing when he put in a devastating performance against America’s next heavyweight hope, Jared Anderson.
Anderson went into the contest as the favourite but there were many pundits who felt it was risky matchmaking to face someone of Bakole’s stature at just 24-years-old.
Those fears came true in the very first round. The Congolese heavyweight, who has only suffered one defeat at the hands of Michael Hunter back in 2018, scored a knockdown via uppercut that Anderson was lucky to survive.
After four more rounds where both men landed big shots but Bakole’s much more bruising, he caught the American with another stunning uppercut in the fifth to send him to the canvas once more. ‘Big Baby’ never fully recovered and was once again knocked down before the referee called a stop to the action after a final flurry.
It’s clear Bakole is now a threat to anyone in boxing’s blue ribbon division and if he found it hard to get the fights he wanted before after this performance he may now find it even tougher.
In his post fight press interview, the WBA number one ranked heavyweight made it clear who he wanted next – a chance to avenge his sole loss to Hunter.
“I told you from the beginning I’m a machine. I’m here to take over. I want to be number one. No one wants to fight me, but with His Excellency I know I can get any fight I want … Don’t stand with Martin Bakole – I’m big machine. I can take punches for 12 rounds.
Michael Hunter is here. My boy is here. This is the fight I always want. You want to talk on social media? I’m here in America. I stopped the number one American here. I’m looking to face Usyk or Tyson, but Michael Hunter, I want the rematch. That’s the reason why I’m calling him here, so we can do this baby.”
Hunter, who stepped into the ring in Los Angeles, had a one word response to the call out – ‘absolutely’.
