After KO Threat: Anthony Joshua squares off with ‘most dangerous fighter in the heavyweight division’ after KO threat
Anthony Joshua had a jam-packed night in London for the 2024 Ring Awards.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion came face-to-face with Daniel Dubois for the first time since being knocked out cold by his British compatriot in September.
AJ spent most of his night talking up a potential clash with Tyson Fury, which remains one of the biggest in boxing despite the fact that they both appear to have passed their peak.
If that fight doesn’t come off, Anthony Joshua could box the dark horse of the heavyweight division.
Anthony Joshua faces off with Martin Bakole
Martin Bakole is a 6ft 6in KO artist from Congo, who has amassed a 22-1 record while quietly climbing the heavyweight ranks.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a breakout performance as he dropped American prospect Jared Anderson three times en route to a shock fifth-round knockout victory in August 2024.
Since then, he’s been trying to secure himself a big-name opponent. Bakole is currently booked to face 20-1 contender Efe Ajagba in a fight expected to take place in March and act as an eliminator for the IBF heavyweight title.
Joshua was recently asked to give his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Bakole and Ajagba.
Naturally, AJ put his support behind his fellow Nigerian, Ajagba, but that didn’t sit well with Bakole.
“Anthony Joshua, this video is for you. I want to knock you out and now you’re talking s*** saying Ajagba is going to beat me,” Bakole lamented in a social media post.
“Shame on you. How many times did I call you out? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You don’t feel ashamed of yourself? I want to fight you, and I want to knock you out.
“Look at Daniel Dubois, broke his nose twice and he knocked you out cold – what happened to me? I’ll knock you out in the first round.
“You’re talking about Ajagba, but Ajagba is a baby, wait to see how I am going to knock him out. I’ll invite you to be there – you’re talking s***, I want to fight you, stop talking nonsense.
“Now you say that you’re Nigerian, you are not British anymore, I’ll knock you out – I’m the African champion, I’m an African warrior and I will knock you out… After knocking Ajagba out, I’ll knock you out as well.”
Just a few days after Bakole’s outburst, he bumped into Joshua at the swanky awards bash in London.
The heavyweights squared off ahead of their potential grudge match – but everything seemed calm as Bakole grinned like a Cheshire cat and Joshua did everything he could to keep a straight face.
Joe Rogan is a big Martin Bakole fan
UFC commentator Joe Rogan was recently discussing Dana White’s transition to boxing during a ‘Fight Companion’ episode of his popular podcast, but the 57-year-old soon became distracted by his new favorite fighter, Martin Bakole.
He said: “The Saudis are just saying, ‘I wanna see this fight. What is it gonna cost?’
“When Martin Bakole fought Jared Anderson, Jared Anderson’s people were saying, ‘Do not take that fight’. Martin Bakole is the most dangerous fighter in the heavyweight division that nobody knows about. Martin Bakole is f***ing terrifying.”
Rogan’s producer pulled up highlights from Bakole’s big win over Anderson as the UFC icon continued to rave about him as a potential world champion.
He added: “This is Martin Bakole, he’s the most-feared heavyweight. He’s f***ing huge, and Jared Anderson was undefeated, he was like the American prospect and Bakole just put it to him. And he’s really hard to hit too, man.
“[Anderson] just took this fight too early and Bakole is just f***ing huge. Bakole is like 266lbs. He’s the next wave. He can do it right now, he f***s those guys up in sparring. The stories about this guy in sparring, everybody he brings in he gives them a world of hell.
“I’m telling you, man, nobody knows who this guy is. Martin Bakole, he’s the f***ing future. That’s the future, he knocks everyone out [and] he’s got an iron chin.”
