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Bakole or Wilder? Hearn denies Joshua has agreed next fight

Eddie Hearn has denied Anthony Joshua has agreed his next fight, saying the heavyweight is yet to begin talks with any opponent.

Speculation on social media had suggested Joshua could fight Martin Bakole or Deontay Wilder next.

With Joshua, 35, coming off a knockout loss to IBF champion Daniel Dubois in an all-British clash, Matchroom promoter Hearn says no concrete plans are in place.

“If you look at Twitter [X], he’s signed and agreed to fight Martin Bakole. Today it’s all signed for Wilder against Joshua on June 7th. [But with] both of those fights there hasn’t been one discussion yet,” Hearn said on the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast.

Congolese heavyweight Bakole has talked up a fight with Joshua in recent weeks, even suggesting he hurt the two-time heavyweight world champion in a sparring session.

But Hearn, who has promoted Joshua for the entirety of his professional career, laughed off the story, saying he has never witnessed Bakole “rock” Joshua in sparring.

“I think Martin Bakole is a very good fighter, but don’t get carried away that this is the new George Foreman,” Hearn said.

READ MORE : ‘Number One Heavyweight In The World’ Has Now ‘Signed’ To Fight Anthony…

Joshua’s return to the summit of the heavyweight scene was halted by Dubois at Wembley last September as he suffered the fourth defeat of his career and second via stoppage.

He was expected to fight Dubois again, but opted out of talks for a rematch and Dubois will face Joseph Parker on 22 February instead.

Before Tyson Fury’s shock retirement announcement last month, anticipation had been building the Gypsy King might face Joshua.

But while that fight seems unlikely again, Hearn says Fury remains at the top of Joshua’s wishlist.

“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.

Joshua has history with both Dubois and Parker having stripped Parker of his WBO title in their 2018 unification fight.

Hearn is not confident Dubois will retain his IBF title, with Parker on a five-fight winning streak, including wins over Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.

“The first four, five rounds of that fight will be so important,” Hearn said of Dubois-Parker.

“If Parker can get through those rounds, you’ve got to put question marks back in Dubois’ head because right now I think he thinks he’s invincible.

“He’s buying into the hype. Which might be good for him. Dubois is a handful.

“I think he’s beatable and I think Parker is the guy to do it. Right now, a confident Daniel Dubois is a dangerous man.”

‘Number One Heavyweight In The World’ Has Now ‘Signed’ To Fight Anthony Joshua: “It’s Done”

Anthony Joshua is likely to fight twice this year as he looks to bounce back from a fourth career loss.

‘Anthony Joshua’s latest defeat came at the hands of Daniel Dubois as he attempted to become a three-time world heavyweight champion

A bad first round for Joshua saw him knocked down before the bell and fail to properly recover fully thereafter. Just as he was beginning to get a foothold in the fight during the fifth round, he was caught again and put down, this time out for the count.

The Brit has rebuilt well after previous losses. His first came to Andy Ruiz in 2019 and in the immediate rematch six months later he won wide on the cards. After two back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, the former Olympic Gold Medalist then put together four wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou before that fight with Dubuis derailed his progress once more.

It is now being reported by talkSPORT that Joshua will take on Martin Bakole, the division’s ‘most avoided heavyweight,’ later this year in Africa.

READ MORE : Now Eddie Hearn is scared to mention me, I wobbled Anthony Joshua’s ‘head…

His promoter, Ben Shalom, was ringside at the weekend and revealed the news.

“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 [to fight Joshua] and we’re off to the Congo.”

Joshua’s team are yet to respond to the statement. His promoter Eddie Hearn has said the Bakole fight is on the table but that the immediate target is the winner on Dubois’ title defence against Joseph Parker later this month.

He had hoped to go into an epic fight with fellow British rival Tyson Fury but Fury’s retirement in January, following his own back-to-back defeats to Usyk, put a halt on that.

Anthony joshua

Bakole, who is scheduled to fight Efe Ajagba next in a final eliminator for the IBF’s mandatory position, has sparred many of the top heavyweights, including Joshua and Fury, but so far the best names on his record in the ring are Carlos Takam and Jared Anderson, both of whom he stopped. He has one defeat to Michael Hunter.

“Pull Yourself Together” Frank Bruno Didn’t Hesitate When Asked Who Wins Tyson Fury vs Joshua

Frank Bruno has predicted who he believes will prevail in an all-British heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Despite the shock retirement announcement made by Fury earlier this month, it is expected that ‘The Gypsy King’ could be tempted to make a return to the sport to face Joshua in a fight that has been speculated for many years.

The 36-year-old was unsuccessful in his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion last December, when he was outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in their huge rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

‘AJ’ is preparing to make a return to boxing after suffering a shock knockout defeat to newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September, although it remains unclear when he will be returning and who his next opponent will be.

READ MORE He Was Robbed,Oleksandr Usyk’s Team Finally Reacts To Tyson Fury’s Shock…

Speaking to iFL TV, Bruno backed ‘The Gypsy King’ to prevail in a potential showdown with Joshua, claiming he believes Fury will ‘get himself together’ and do the business.

“I think Fury, you know. For some strange reason he’ll get himself together, pull himself together, and the weight that he’s got amongst other ones, use that all.”

In light of Fury’s retirement announcement, Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh revealed he would be reaching out to ‘The Gypsy King’ to discuss his options and whether he might be able to tempt him in to one more huge fight before he hangs the gloves up for good, drawing the curtain on what has been a storied and accomplished professional career.

Now Eddie Hearn is scared to mention me, I wobbled Anthony Joshua’s ‘head and legs’ in sparring with huge shot

Martin Bakole has a unique story to tell from sparring British heavyweight Anthony Joshua.

Martin Bakole is considered by many to be the ‘most avoided’ heavyweight in the division, carrying dynamite in both hands and a really powerful style.

The Congolese KO artist has yet to receive his flowers at world level in a big-name fight, despite mixing it with some of the best in the gym including Daniel Dubois and current champion Oleksandr Usyk, who he claims he knocked out.

One fight Bakole has always had his eye on in the professional ranks is British star Joshua, whom he sparred while AJ trained in Sheffield under the stewardship of Rob McCracken.

And when giving insight into his time he has already shared in the ring with Joshua, Bakole claims he rocked Joshua with his trademark left hand.

“Eddie was ringside in the gym in Sheffield when I was sparring Anthony Joshua,” he told talkSPORT.

“And he knows and sees what I did to Anthony Joshua. That is to this day why he doesn’t mention me.

“When I first came to the gym, six or seven people came to spar him and I gave him a hard time.

“The next day they took everyone out except me and Agit Kabayel, I came to spar him but I was surprised I was asked to do six rounds.

READ MORE : ‘It’s done’ Ben Shalom has revealed that a blockbuster clash between Martin…

“So my coach said ‘show him’, and I caught him with a beautiful left hand. It shook his head and shook his legs.

“Everyone went quiet in the gym, I used the left hook yeah and people saw it.”

Bakole and Joshua have naturally been thrust into a potential showdown, with an event in Africa regularly teased.

The pair came face-to-face recently and teased a showdown, but they are currently on very different trajectories.

The Congolese star is set to return in a world title eliminator with Efe Ajagba in May as he looks to put his name in the mix.

While Joshua wanted to face Tyson Fury next, but the showdown is in jeopardy with the ‘Gypsy King’ having retired from the sport.

Anthony joshua

But promoter Eddie Hearn named Bakole on a list of alternative opponent options for his planned return.

“We are going to fight again whatever,” Hearn told Seconds Out.

“It’s not like ‘Oh if Fury doesn’t fight us and we don’t get Dubois, we are retiring’.

“Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Martin Bakole, [winner of] Dubois vs Parker, [winner of] Zhilei Zhang against Agit Kabayel.”

‘It’s done’ Ben Shalom has revealed that a blockbuster clash between Martin Bakole and Anthony Joshua is ‘done’.

Shalom was in attendance for Adam Azim’s victory over Sergey Lipinets on Saturday night at OVO Arena Wembley.

Azim record his best victory to date by blasting out the Russian inside nine rounds to claim the the vacant IBO super lightweight title.

During the event, Shalom spoke with talkSPORT boxing pundit Spencer Oliver to discuss the fight, but ended up revealing some tasty fight news for another one of his clients.

“The promoter of Martin Bakole that’s what I want to be known as,” he told Oliver.

“The number one heavyweight in the world.”

Shalom proceeded to confirm that Bakole vs Joshua was a ‘done’ deal after the former asserted that he would fight AJ in Africa in the summer.

“It’s done. I’m hearing he’s signed and we’re off to the Congo,” Shalom said.

Anthony Joshua and Bakole, 31, have been naturally thrust into a potential showdown ever since Tyson Fury announced in January that he was retiring from the sport.

Bakole, who boasts a record of 21-1 with 16 KOs, is considered by many to be the ‘most avoided’ heavyweight in the division.

However, the Congolese knockout artist has yet to receive his flowers on the world stage in a big-name bout.

This comes despite Bakole locking horns with some of the best in the gym, including Daniel Dubois and current champion Oleksandr Usyk, who he claims he knocked out.

One fight Bakole has always had his eye on in the professional ranks is British star Joshua, 35, whom he sparred while ‘AJ’ trained in Sheffield.

READ MORE : I have tittle to claim, Anthony Joshua Has Now Sets His Sights On One….

“I think he’ll come [back], yeah. I think so,” he said. “There is a big fight waiting for him in Africa.

“Outside the ring I keep working hard because my fight against him in Africa is a big fight.

“I think it will happen in the Congo…we need to fight in the same stadium and I think it’s going to be in Congo.

“It’s close and I will get that.”

Oliver was gleaming with a smile as he said: “Right boys. You’ve heard it here. The fight is happening in Africa in the summer.

“Anthony Joshua vs Martin Bakole.”

Bakole and Joshua came face-to-face recently and teased a showdown at The Ring Magazine awards in London, but they are currently on very different trajectories.

Anthony joshua

While Joshua wanted to face Fury next, but the showdown is in jeopardy following the ‘Gypsy King’s’ retirement.

READ MORE : Alex Pereira has brutally responds to Anthony Joshua after UFC star urged to…

AJ hasn’t revealed a plan for his next outing in a planned comeback after being brutally stopped by Dubois in September.

But his promoter, Eddie Hearn, named Bakole on a list of alternative opponent options for his planned return.

Shalom was just 23-years-old when he launched a boxing promotional company from his flat in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

He is Britain’s youngest ever licensed boxing promoter.

‘The all time Most Avoided Heavyweight’ Has Been Told By Turki Alalshikh That He Will Fight Anthony Joshua Next

Anthony Joshua may have found his next opponent.

‘Anthony Joshua’ suffered a shock fifth round knockout defeat against newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last September, but has confirmed he will be making a return to the sport this year

It was heavily speculated that the 35-year-old would be facing Tyson Fury next until ‘The Gypsy King’ announced his retirement from boxing at the beginning of January.

The man standing opposite Joshua in his next contest could have just been revealed though, after a heavyweight powerhouse claimed he has had his next fight confirmed by Turki Alalshikh.

Martin Bakole has picked up 21 wins in 22 professional contests, securing 16 knockout victories in the process and is on a run of three stoppages all inside six rounds. His last outing came in August when he blasted out highly rated American prospect Jared Anderson inside five rounds.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Bakole – who has picked up the tag of the most avoided man in the division – revealed he has been advised by Alalshikh that his next fight will come against two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Africa.

READ MORE : I have tittle to claim, Anthony Joshua Has Now Sets His Sights On One….

“I love that fight, and I would like to say thank you to [His] Excellency because he’s behind this. He said ‘Martin we have a big fight in America, finish with [Efe] Ajagba and then Anthony Joshua is next in Africa.’

“Even I heard Anthony Joshua said he needs to fight in Africa, so all he need was a promoter or someone to promote that fight. Between me and him in Africa that will be a good fight.”

Martin Bakole has also secured impressive wins against Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in 2022 and Carlos Takam in 2023. His maiden career defeat came at the hands of Michael Hunter, who stopped him in the final round of their fight back in October 2018.

I have tittle to claim, Anthony Joshua Has Now Sets His Sights On One Fight After Tyson Fury Retirement Spoils Plans

Anthony Joshua is heading towards the end of what has been a hugely successful boxing career.

The Brit reinvigorated the heavyweight division and brought huge numbers of fans to the sport over the last 13 years since he won his gold medal at the Olympics in 2012

After turning professional, power puncher ‘AJ’ quickly rose up through the ranks to become a world champion and then a unified belt holder. As well as good wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte and Aleksandr Povetkin, there were setback losses on the way to Andy Ruiz and then back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk that left him belt-less.

His attempt to regain world honours fell short back in September when he lost to Daniel Dubois by 5th round knockout. In the aftermath, many thought the one and only fight left to make was with former champion and fellow British boxing star Tyson Fury, who also twice lost to Usyk.

However, Fury’s retirement announcement in January rather ruined those plans.

Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Joshua has moved on from the idea of fighting Fury for now and named the fight he wants

“Daniel Dubois rematch.”

READ MORE : I’ m ready again, I’ve fought Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but ‘The….

He then corrected himself and pointed out Joshua was more interested in becoming a three-time world champion than getting his revenge

“Not even the Dubois rematch. The world heavyweight championship. I think Parker is going to be Dubois so maybe we fight Parker.”

All eyes then turn to February 22 when Dubois puts his IBF title on the line for a second time against former champ Parker. Though Hearn believes the New Zealander will upset the odds, former Parker opponent Derek Chisora backs Dubois.

Alex Pereira has brutally responds to Anthony Joshua after UFC star urged to make boxing career switch

Anthony Joshua has backed Alex Pereira to make a switch to boxing – and offered him help to do so.

UFC champion Pereira recently defeated Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 with yet another power-striking display, landing a thunderous head kick to close the show.

‘Poatan’ has become a force to be reckoned with in the UFC, and has shown he packs a seriously powerful punch.

Former two-time boxing heavyweight champion Joshua endorsed Pereira on social media at the weekend, and told him to contact his management company to find an ideal debut opponent.

He tweeted: “Alex Pereira should make a boxing debut one day.”

Pereira then issued a heartwarming response, replying: “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream.

“I’m 37, I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

Joshua replied: “The options are endless champ. I am sure something can be done. Drop 258mgt a line.”

Pereira could join a whole host of UFC fighters who have made the switch to the squared circle.

He has already fought once in boxing at heavyweight, in a lone bout stopping Marcelo De Souza Cruz in 2017.

Francis Ngannou departed the promotion to make an appearance in the boxing ring, fighting Tyson Fury and most recently Joshua where he was stopped in brutal fashion.

READ MORE : I’ m ready again, I’ve fought Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but ‘The….

The opportunity of lucrative paydays could lure in the Brazilian, who could comfortably make the heavyweight limit.

The Brazilian has made an emphatic mark on the roster, and has picked up titles in two weight categories.

Given Joshua’s praise, Pereira could now follow up and explore the option given he is starting to routinely take care of many of the challengers at light-heavyweight in the UFC.

And the Brazilian has faced comparisons to boxing legend Mike Tyson and Terence Crawford already.

Renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas said: “He’s got radar. He’s got x-ray vision. He sees things other people don’t see.

“Terence Crawford in boxing is that kind of guy. When you see things and you’re that calm, and you’re in that calm kind of environment, all you can be in, you see things and react just a little bit [faster].

“They call it timing, but he has special timing because he’s that calm and he’s got those kinds of eyes.

“Also when you get these kinds of results behind it [the staredown]. When a guy can go into your soul, it’s like he’s looking right through.

“[Pereira’s opponents are] thinking, ‘How come he don’t feel like I feel like?’ That’s what they’re thinking!”

I’ m ready again, I’ve fought Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but ‘The Juggernaut’ gave me my toughest fight

Joseph Parker has shared the ring with a who’s who of great heavyweights from his generation – but one stood out above the rest.

The Kiwi burst onto the scene by beating Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO heavyweight title in 2016.

He held onto the red and gold strap for just under two years before he ran into Anthony Joshua in a WBA, WBO and IBF unification clash at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Despite a spirited performance, Parker was outboxed by AJ over the distance and lost via unanimous decision.

In the years that followed, Parker traded wins and losses with Britain’s best, beating Derek Chisora (twice) and losing to Dillian Whyte and Joe ‘The Juggernaut’ Joyce.His defeat at the hands of the latter marked his first, and to date only, knockout loss of his 38-fight career (35-3),

So it is perhaps no surprise that Parker named Joyce as his toughest opponent.

Speaking about the fight during an interview on Carl Froch’s YouTube channel, he said: “It wasn’t a great night for me, it was tough.

“Leading into the fight I got real sick. Very bad. I shouldn’t have fought.

“He’s not the fastest and doesn’t move the quickest. [I lost because of] the pressure and I wasn’t healthy. It was tough.”

Joyce wore Parker down over 11 rounds before uncorking a massive left hook to close the show.

It was a huge setback for the Auckland puncher, who was riding a six-fight winning streak at the time.

However, Parker has since revived his career with a pair of notable wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, which have catapulted him into an IBF heavyweight title fight with Daniel Dubois on February 22.

Parker won the WBO ‘interim’ belt by beating Zhang, although he will be stripped of that title when the opening bell sounds for his next outing, per the major sanctioning body’s rules.

READ MORE : Surprise‘Closer than people think’ – Anthony Joshua advised to take comeback fight….

“When you have an interim champion, we don’t unify an interim champion with a legitimate champion from another organization, that is our policy,” the newly appointed WBO president Gustavo Olivieri told talkSPORT.com last month.

“So what we’ve done in this case is we’ve advised Queensberry Promotions, that we have no objection to Parker fighting for the IBF title.

“None at all. It is a great fight. We have a great relationship with the IBF, I’m very close to its president Darryl Peoples.

Joseph parker,Anthony Joshua

“But since we have this policy, he [Parker] would have to relinquish the title.

“But once the bell rings, signifying the commencement of the fight, the title should be declared vacant automatically.”

After The Viral KO, BKFC star sets sights on shock Anthony Joshua fight after contract ends with $150k viral KO

Ben Rothwell is hoping to secure a fight with Anthony Joshua after his BKFC knockout went viral.

The 43-year-old secured the BKFC heavyweight title in brutal fashion at Knuckle Mania 5 on Saturday night.

Ben Rothwell extended his bareknuckle boxing record to 4-0 with a 36-second knockout victory against Mick Terrill and earned $150,000.

However, ‘Big Ben’ has now revealed he is a free agent after his contract with the promotion came to an end.

Following four bareknuckle bouts, the former UFC fighter is now targeting a move to boxing with Joshua on his list of dream match-ups.

Asked about facing fellow ex-UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou, Rothwell told The Ariel Helwani Show: “Right now I’m a free agent, I very much love the BKFC, I love David Feldman and I would like to continue, even finish my career here.

“How much time have I got? Maybe a year or so, it really depends. But Francis Ngannou, Anthony Joshua, guys who beat them guys.

READ MORE : Surprise‘Closer than people think’ – Anthony Joshua advised to take comeback fight….

“To put the gloves on and prove how good at boxing I am would very much be a bucket list.

“I just don’t feel like I’ve ever gotten to show the boxing world how good of a boxer I am.”

The switch is understandable given Ngannou is said to have made $20m for fighting Joshua – a considerable increase on anything he made in his mixed martial arts career.

“Right now the BKFC and UFC fans just say I’m a brawler,” he added. “They don’t understand my precision, they don’t understand how capable I truly am but if I got to fight one of them that would be a huge opportunity for me to show the world how good I really am.

“Before I am done fighting, I want to bring as much respect to this belt as possible.

“If I have to step away for a fight I think the BKFC would back me. I believe we’re going to get something figured out and I will defend this belt.”

oleksandr usyk

Prior to his run in BKFC, Rothwell amassed a 39-14 record in professional mixed martial arts.

Those bouts included 17 in the UFC over a 12-year period between 2009 and 2021.

He would not be the first MMA star to come up against two-time unified heavyweight world champion Joshua.

READ MORE : “I Want To Knock Him Out” Heavyweight Vows To Retire Anthony Joshua In…

However, he missed out on becoming a world champion for the third time in his last fight.

Joshua was stopped by compatriot Daniel Dubois in their IBF title bout at Wembley Stadium in Septembr.

The 35-year-old has yet to announce when he will next enter the ring, with his professional record now standing at 28-4.

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