MARTIN BAKOLE is not happy with Anthony Joshua.
The former sparring partners appeared to be on good terms but not any more after Bakole, 21-1 (16 KOs), posted a video to his X account earlier today.
Bakole, ranked in the top five with all four governing bodies, is due to face Efe Ajagba, 20-1 (14 KOs), in an IBF world title eliminator this year. A date and venue is still to be announced but their fight could take place on a future Riyadh Season show.
Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), is currently in Nigeria visiting family and was recently asked for his thoughts on the fight between Ajagba, who hails from Ugelli in Nigeria, and Bakole. The former heavyweight champion said, “Two giants of Africa coming together to collide. It’s going to be an interesting fight. Efe is a good boxer, and obviously, I’m going to support Efe, even though he doesn’t support me.
“I’m backing him (to beat Bakole) because we are from the same place, and I really want to see him do well.”
That has not gone down too well with the Scottish-based Congolese-born Bakole who issued a response to Joshua’s comments.
“Hey Anthony Joshua, this video is for you. I wanted to call you out, you’re talking s*** about Ajagba 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, I want to knock you out. Look at Daniel Dubois, I broke his nose twice (when sparring) and he knocked you out cold. I will knock you out in the first round. We’re talking about Ajagba, Ajagba is a baby wait until you see how I’m going to knock him out. I invite you to be there, you’re taking s*** I want to fight you. Stop talking nonsense.”
Joshua is taking some time out of the sport after a devastating loss to Daniel Dubois in which ‘AJ’ was knocked out in the fifth round having already been dropped three times previously during the fight in September at Wembley Stadium Dubois retained his IBF Heavyweight title and now goes on to face Joseph Parker in Riyadh on February 22. Joshua’s own career was left hanging by a thread after his fourth loss but the British star is hoping to secure a fight with Tyson Fury this year and still harbours ambitions of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.
Bakole, meanwhile, has been one of the most avoided fighters in the division. The 6ft 6ins heavyweight demolished American hope Jared Anderson last August to cement his reputation as a fearsome puncher and in 2025 could finally land a shot at one of the four world titles.
