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“One Round”: ‘Next Heavyweight King’ Vows To ‘Knock Deontay Wilder Out Cold’ For Avoiding Him

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Deontay Wilder

Following back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia, Deontay Wilder has said he will fight on.

Many felt the 39-year-old from Alabama was set to retire after the second loss – a knockout at the hands of Zhilei Zhang – which followed on from a near shutout points defeat to Joseph Parker.

Another name in the mix at that time was Martin Bakole, who missed out on the Wilder fight but instead put his name on the map by demolishing hot prospect Jared Anderson in August.

Un promoteur de la boxe anglaise mise sur un combat entre Bakole et Wilder

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Speaking to IFL TV at the time, Bakole criticised Wilder for avoiding him and made it clear exactly what he intended to do had the fight been signed.

“Wilder avoided me. He [chose] not to fight me and pick Joseph Parker … I would knock him out in the first round. I was going to knock him out cold.

He’s small. Everyone knows he was aggressive but we saw him playing in the ring and [not able to] engage the fight. I was going to stop him. Parker gave him time to survive, but I was not going to give him time to survive.”

In a more recent video, the big-hitting Congolese heavyweight said it would be an ‘easy finish’ for him were they to face off.

Bakole – who has been named as the ‘future heavyweight king’ by Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk – will face Efe Ajagbe for the IBF mandatory slot in May. Should he win, he will be called to challenge the winner of champion Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker later this month.

As such, a Wilder fight seems a long way off, perhaps never to happen, but if the American does indeed want to have one final crack at the top level, these are the names he will be met with when he gets there.

Wilder’s comeback plans recently took a hit in the form of a scrapped fight with journeyman Curtis Harper, reportedly due to a financial dispute with promotional outfit BLK Prime.

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BOXING

“He’s Terrified”: Eddie Hearn ‘Making Up Excuses’ To Keep Anthony Joshua Away From One Heavyweight

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Eddie Hearn Anthony Joshua

Promoter Eddie Hearn has been accused of protecting his man Anthony Joshua from one dangerous fight.

It’s fair to say that Joshua is now nearing the end of his career. The Brit is in his mid 30s and has had plenty of hard bouts and great success along the way.

‘AJ’ became world champion for the first time in 2016 when he knocked out Charles Martin inside two rounds, then unifying with wins over Joseph Parker and Wladimir Klitschko. The first setback came with an upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, but was corrected with a rematch victory in December of the same year.

Eddie Hearn SLAMS criticism of Anthony Joshua and says Sky 'wouldn't be doing boxing' if it wasn't for Brit | The US Sun

READ: Derek Chisora vs Anthony Joshua was once unfathomable – here’s why it now makes sense

Joshua was again derailed in 2021 and 2022 when he lost back-to-back fights with Ukrainian slickster Oleksandr Usyk. Following four wins to get himself back in title contention, he was then stopped by Daniel Dubois inside five rounds in September in a failed attempt to become three-time world champion.

It recently emerged that Joshua was rumoured to be in talks with Martin Bakole about a huge fight in Africa. However, in a new post on X, Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson accuses Hearn – who has guided the ‘AJ’s career since he turned over from the Olympics – of making up excuses so it doesn’t happen.

“I was bombarded with is Martin v AJ happening in Africa in October last night. My reply was: His excellency wants it, Martin wants it, AJ says he wants it, but big Eddie seems to be sh***ing his pants making up every excuse to avoid it. Big Ed knows”

Hearn and Joshua have always prided themselves on taking on all comers and, of the top heavyweights, his record does stand up well to that fact.

Though Joshua has often spoken about his interest in fighting in Africa, a contest with the in-form Bakole who knocked out hot American prospect Jarod Anderson in his last fight would be dangerous indeed.

He may instead wait for another chance to fight for a world title, while Bakole will take on Efe Ajagbe in an IBF eliminator next time out, a win guaranteeing him a shot at champion Dubois.

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BOXING

Hearn Denies Joshua’s Next Fight Is With Wilder Or Bakole

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Anthony Joshua Deontay Wilder

Eddie Hearn has denied reports that Anthony Joshua’s next fight has been agreed with either Deontay Wilder or Martin Bakole. 

Joshua is expected to make his return to the ring in the summer. He is coming off the fourth defeat of his career after Daniel Dubois knocked him out in the fifth round. Joshua hit the canvas three times on his way to the stoppage defeat. There were negotiations over a rematch, but talks broke down as Dubois chose to face Joseph Parker. Dubois will face Parker on February 22. Joshua has been linked with a fight against Wilder for some time.

Talks initially began in 2018 when the fight could have been for the Undisputed Heavyweight Title. Joshua held the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, whilst Wilder held the WBC title. Reports indicated that Wilder’s team made a $50 million offer. Once again, talks broke down as both fighters moved on. Joshua would lose his belts, eventually to Oleksandr Usyk. Meanwhile, Wilder lost his WBC belt to Tyson Fury. Joshua and Wilder were meant to face off last year. They had signed a two fight deal.

Deontay Wilder Issues Bold Challenge to Anthony Joshua: "Your Time Is Up" – RingSide24

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This was dependent on Joshua and Wilder winning their next fights. Joshua defeated Otto Wallin, but Wilder came up short against Parker. He then chose to face Francis Ngannou, and Wilder took on Zhilei Zhang. Joshua stopped in Ngannou, but Wilder lost to Zhang, reducing the demand to see that fight. But following Joshua’s defeat, a fight with Wilder could make sense.

Joshua’s Future

The other alternative is a fight with Bakole. Bakole is consistently on record, stating that he has hurt Joshua in sparring. He secured the biggest win of his career when he stopped the-then undefeated Jared Anderson in his last fight. Bakole is expected to fight in May in his next bout. There were reports that a deal with Joshua had been agreed for a fight in Africa. Hearn has now dispelled any rumors of a Wilder or Bakole fight, leaving questions over where Joshua goes next.

Eddie Hearn Didn't Hesitate When Asked If Anthony Joshua Has Now 'Signed' To Fight Martin Bakole - Seconds Out

“The latest one that someone sent me on Saturday, saying, ‘Anthony Joshua vs. Martin Bakole is done, signed.’ We have not had one conversation about that fight. I’m not ruling it out, by the way, but it’s never even been a conversation. So, I don’t know where that came from. I saw one last night, ‘Wilder-Joshua is done for June 7th.’ [And] I’ve not had one conversation about that fight.

“[And] I spoke to AJ for the first time yesterday in a few weeks, and he’s actually in real good spirits. I think Martin Bakole is a very good fighter, but don’t get carried away that this is the new George Foreman. It’s always been the two – Tyson Fury – who is retired at the moment, we’ll see how long that lasts, and the winner of Dubois-Parker,” Hearn said of Joshua’s ideal next opponent,” Hearn said

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua’s Team Responds To Reports That Martin Bakole Fight Is ‘Signed’ And Set For Africa

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Anthony Joshua

Speculation has been growing in the last few days that Anthony Joshua and Martin Bakole are set to fight in Africa.

Joshua hasn’t fought since he was stopped inside five rounds by IBF world champion Daniel Dubois back in September. He had hoped to fight Tyson Fury this year but Fury announced his retirement at the start of 2025.

Bakole is an often avoided heavyweight who has stopped Carlos Takam and, even more impressively, the much-hyped American Jared Anderson in his last two fights.

Eddie Hearn Finally Reveals What Really Happened In Anthony Joshua-Martin Bakole Spar - Seconds Out

READ: ‘Most Avoided Heavyweight’ Has Been Told By Turki Alalshikh That He Will Fight Anthony Joshua Next

He is now in camp for an IBF eliminator against Efe Ajagba with his promoter, Ben Shalom, saying a deal to face Joshua was ‘done’ for the Congo later in the year.

“The promoter of Martin Bakole, that’s what I want to be known as. The number one heavyweight in the world. It’s done. I’m hearing he’s signed and we’re off to the Congo.”

However, speaking to BoxNation, journalist Gareth A Davis revealed that Joshua’s camp hadn’t even had a conversation about the potential match-up.

“With them saying that I had to check that out with certain people who shall remain nameless off the record but I’m hearing from Anthony Joshua’s side there hasn’t even been a conversation. Maybe this is Bakole and his team trying to speak the fight into reality given that Joshua hasn’t got a fight yet and Tyson Fury has retired and that was his obvious fight this summer.

It would be a major spectacle in Africa, in Congo, in that Stadium that Ali and Foreman fought in. It’s a great event if they can do it there 51 years after the Rumble in the Jungle, but I’m sorry I’m hearing there hasn’t even been a conversation about it.”

For now, it seems that this one is a long way off.

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BOXING

Why Anthony Joshua ‘Should Feel Ashamed of Himself,’ Rival Says

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Anthony Joshua speeding

Rising heavyweight contender Martin Bakole has ripped into Anthony Joshua, challenged him to a boxing fight, and said he “should feel ashamed of himself” in a new video he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Bakole put together one of the sport’s best wins in 2024 when he bruised, battered, and beat American heavyweight hope Jared Anderson in a one-sided demolition job in August. The fight was in the middle of Riyadh Season’s debut in the United States, and it has since been suggested that Bakole is now deserving of a bigger name opponent, on a more prominent spot on a big fight card.

Martin Bakole

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Now, Bakole appears to be making Joshua the desired big-name opponent for his next breakout fight.

Martin Bakole & Anthony Joshua’s pro records (as of 08/01/25)
Martin Bakole Anthony Joshua
Fights 22 32
Wins 21 28
Losses 1 4
Draws 0 0

Bakole’s beef with Joshua all began because the former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion said he tipped Efe Ajagba, who Bakole is linked with fighting in the coming months, to triumph in their prospective bout. It’s a prediction Bakole took umbrage with.

“Hey, Anthony Joshua this video is for you,” Bakole began his video. “I called [you] out, I wanted to knock you out, and now you’re saying Ajagba is going to beat me. Shame on you.”

“How many times did I call you out? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You should feel ashamed of yourself.”

Bakole said: “I want to fight you.”

He then referenced a potential difference between them, regarding Daniel Dubois, who eviscerated Joshua in a beatdown for the ages last year. Dubois, Bakole says, is someone whom he scored significant damage over when they sparred in training.

“Look at Daniel Dubois – I broke his nose twice [in sparring] and he knocked you out cold,” Bakole said.

“I will knock you out in the first round.”

“You’re talking about Ajagba? Ajagba is a baby, wait till you see how I’m going to knock him out.”

Joshua is yet to respond.

Joshua wasn’t the only fighter to attract Bakole’s ire as, in a YouTube video on iFL TV, he pointed to other heavyweight contenders — Zhilei Zhang and Agib Kabayel — who he believes have avoided fighting him, to take on other bouts.

“I was supposed to fight Big Zhang or Kabayel,” Bakole told the channel. “I’m not surprised they’re scared, or fighting each other, in Rihyadh Season. So now I have Ajagba [in March or April].”

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BOXING

‘I Broke His Nose Twice’: Bakole accuse Anthony Joshua of ducking

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Martin Bakole Anthony Joshua

Martin Bakole has bashed Anthony Joshua, accusing him of ducking. 

Bakole is considered one of the most dangerous boxers in the heavyweight division. He secured an upset win over Jared Anderson in his last fight. Anderson was considered as the future of the heavyweight division. But Bakole dropped him numerous times before getting a stoppage in the fifth. However, Bakole has struggled to get a big fight. He has called out Joshua on numerous occasions.

He said previously that he hurt Joshua while sparring. Meanwhile, the same was said when it came to Daniel Dubois. Now, Bakole has responded to AJ, who allegedly backed Efe Ajagba to beat Bakolie in their IBF title eliminator. Efe is 20-1-0 with 14 wins by knockout. His biggest win so far has arguably been Frank Sanchez. Bakole is his biggest test, raising questions over whether he can deliver. Bakole hit back at Joshua’s claims.

Bakole Threatens To End Joshua's Career - 'I Broke His Nose Twice'

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“Hey, Anthony Joshua this video is for you. I called [you] out, I wanted to knock you out, and now you’re saying Ajagba is going to beat me. Shame on you. How many times did I call you out? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You should feel ashamed of yourself. I want to fight you. Look at Daniel Dubois – I broke his nose twice [in sparring] and he knocked you out cold. I will knock you out in the first round. You’re talking about Ajagba? Ajagba is a baby, wait till you see how I’m going to knock him out,” Bakloe said

But Joshua’s focus is on facing Tyson Fury following the Dubois loss. Dubois dropped him three times on his way to a fifth-round stoppage. There were talks over a rematch, but it never happened. Dubois will now face Joseph Parker on February 22. A Joshua-Fury fight is the biggest bout out there, meaning Bakole may not get his shot.

Joshua will likely secure his career-highest purse for that fight, which could be his last. He also has more incentive to run things back with Dubois. Bakole does not offer Joshua any belts. But if Bakole becomes an interim champion for the IBF, he will be in a position to face Dubois. But for now, Joshua is eying Fury with a possible Dubois rematch. Eddie Hearn said as much.

“I think Tyson Fury is still potentially at the peak of his powers, just not good enough to be Oleksandr Usyk tonight. But for me, AJ against Fury is the one, it’s the one at Wembley, I’m going to be pushing His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] to make the fight, but that’s maybe one for another day, tonight belongs to Oleksandr Usyk. But Fury will struggle with this, I think. All fighters do, AJ struggled with the Dubois defeat as well, you’re a winner and when you get beat it hurts and this will hurt Fury,” Hearn said

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BOXING

Is this the man to dethrone Usyk? ‘He would knock him out!

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Oleksandr Usyk

Martin Bakole poses the most dangerous threat to Oleksandr Usyk and would knock out the unified world heavyweight champion, says trainer Billy Nelson. 

Usyk retained his WBO, WBA and WBC belts with another masterful performance to beat Tyson Fury via unanimous decision in the pair’s tense rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Bakole (21-1) is meanwhile coming off his biggest statement display yet after flooring Jared Anderson three times on the way to a fifth-round knockout victory back in August.

The Only Man To Beat Martin Bakole Predicts Fight Against Usyk After Jared Anderson Knockout - Seconds Out

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“I thought Usyk’s performance against Fury wasn’t quite as good or sharp as the first fight. I personally scored the fight a draw, it was very close,” Bakole’s trainer Nelson told Sky Sports.

“Giving either of the fighters four rounds on the scorecards was an injustice to the other boxer. I do believe Martin has got the skills and ability to dethrone Usyk.

“More importantly, I think Usyk and his team think Martin has got the ability to do it. They have shared a ring on quite a few occasions, namely in Ukraine and Dubai.

“The attributes Martin has got is unlike others; he will close the gap down against Usyk very quickly and set traps. I haven’t seen traps being set in his two fights against Tyson.”

Bakole was recently ordered to face Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba in order to determine the mandatory challenger to the IBF heavyweight title, currently held by Daniel Dubois.

Dubois, who knocked out Anthony Joshua in September, interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview in the ring on Saturday night to demand a rematch against the Ukrainian after his ninth-round knockout defeat in August 2023.

Usyk has vowed to take a break in order to spend time with his family after his rematch victory over Fury, but seemingly has zero intention of walking away just yet despite cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights in history.

“You can rest assured that Usyk knows Martin is very dangerous, probably the most dangerous, guy out there,” said Nelson.

“I know Daniel has also said he wants to have the Usyk rematch; I don’t think anybody wants to see that because that was a domination.

“I believe Usyk won every single round against Dubois, even given that low blow, which was a low blow, the referee immediately said it was, so we don’t need to go there. He got beat, he got dropped twice and basically quit at the end of the fight.

“The best challenger out there for Oleksandr Usyk, who is a phenomenal fighter, would be Martin Bakole. I believe, and more importantly, Martin believes, he would knock him out.”

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