Agit Kabayel has withdrawn from his IBF world title eliminator against Martin Bakole and now the Congolese fighter is eyeing a monster replacement.
Germany’s Kabayel has shot up through the ranks after recent wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez but his team has withdrawn from purse bids for the fight with Bakole to determine the IBF mandatory challenger, perhaps because he could be in line to face champion Daniel Dubois straightaway.
If not, those actions add credence to Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson’s claims that his man is the most avoided in the heavyweight division.
Bakole has put together two good wins in the last year, firstly by beating Carlos Takam in Saudi Arabia and then by travelling to the US to knock out hot prospect Jared Anderson.
In a new video posted on X, Bakole has expressed his disappointment at Kabayel before naming the man he is going after instead.
“What’s up, what’s everyone? I came to inform you about the Kabayel fight. I’m so disappointed that Kabayel has pulled out of this fight. He doesn’t want the smoke, he doesn’t want the smoke from the Congolese Warrior.
“I’m the gym like you can see, I started already my camp in the DRC. I’m looking forward to who’s next now. I think I shall fight the ‘Big Zhang’. I’m asking His Excellency Turki Alalsheik if he can make the Big Zhang fight. I would be so happy to fight the big man from China.”
He then spoke again about being an avoided heavyweight and out it down to the threat he poses.
“I don’t know why they are hiding, I don’t know what they don’t want the smoke. I can see they don’t want to get knocked out, and now everyone can see that. I think people now they are believing me that people don’t want to fight me cause they know I will knock them out.”
A fight with Zhilei Zhang would be an epic clash of two knockout artists with Zhang having mostly recently stopped Deontay Wilder and, before a points loss to Joseph Parker, he twice beat Joe Joyce by stoppage.
Luckily for Bakole, the IBF has officially ordered it to take place. All eyes now turn to ‘Big Bang’ and whether or not he will accept.
