Martin Bakole , Congolese giant challenges Jared Anderson to a brawl.

Almost certainly one of the more unfashionable big men competing in the sport today, the Congolese giant Martin Bakole did have some of his apparent discontent targeted at former two-time heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua. Bakole – who is heading towards an IBF final eliminator against Efe Ajagba, 20-1(14) – posted a video in which he laid into AJ for having the nerve to pick Ajagba to defeat him.

 

Bakole, who ruined Jared Anderson’s unbeaten record back in the summer, should have fought since then, but finding big fights in the meantime has been somewhat of a problem for him. Now, against Ajagba, with victory, Bakole, 32, will be one very big step closer to a world title shot. Yet Bakole still wants to fight Joshua, a man he believes should feel “ashamed” of himself.

 

“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,” Bakole said. “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. Listen to Daniel Dubois – I broke his nose twice [during sparring] and he knocked you out cold. I will knock you out in the first round. You talk about Ajagba? Ajagba is just a child; wait till you see how I knock him out.”

 

A clash between Bakole and Joshua would definitely be interesting, but there’s no way this one actually comes off. Far too dangerous a fight for Joshua-who is instead looking at a massive fight with Tyson Fury, which would bring in both men many millions in a colossal payday-Bakole must know that he will never get the chance to fulfil his KO prophecy.