No one has yet managed to solve the puzzle that is Oleksandr Usyk inside the squared circle.
The Ukrainian southpaw is 38 years of age, a former Olympic gold medalist and close to a complete package as a professional. He has shown the footwork, the mental fortitude, the fitness and the IQ to beat all comers so far.
That includes his era’s top contenders at cruiserweight, the division in which he became undisputed in 2018, and up at heavyweight, in which he became undisputed in 2024 after wins over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Usyk also stopped Daniel Dubois in between those fights and will face the Brit again in July when he attempts to become the two-time four-belt heavyweight champion.
Speaking to iFL TV, Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole explained that he believes his experience training with southpaws means he is the only man who could beat Usyk.
“Usyk, except me, beats everyone. Deontay Wilder I think is done. Usyk is a boxing man, boxing brain, boxing movement, I don’t think no one will stop him right now expect Martin Bakole. I know why I am saying that because I learn boxing from my brother, a southpaw, I know how to stop and cut off the ring. But Daniel Dubois doesn’t.
“I was expecting Usyk to get beat by ‘The Gypsy King’ but I was shocked he beat ‘The Gypsy King’ twice. Joshua is good, tough guy, but he doesn’t know how to cut the ring. Daniel Dubois will never change, he will just keep his style, but Usyk is [better] than him.”
Bakole was stopped inside two rounds last time out when he was a late stand-in opponent for Joseph Parker, but before that was on a good run that saw him stop both much hyped young American KO artist Jared Anderson and tough veteran Carlos Takam.
He did, however, fail to make his case for a crack at Usyk this past weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, when he fought to a majority draw with Efe Ajagba, a fight many felt he should have lost.
