“Sparring Is Different From Fighting” Dillian Whyte Predicts Anthony Joshua vs Martin Bakole

Anthony Joshua and Martin Bakole are frequently mentioned to co-star in a thrilling heavyweight clash.

Former two-time champion Joshua is currently looking for a comeback fight after suffering a big knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in his bid to get the belt for the third time. Whilst Bakole – who has been riding a wave since his KO over Jared Anderson last year – would be a dangerous choice, the Brit has made it clear that he will fight all comers

Speaking to IFL TV, former Joshua opponent Dillian Whyte disagreed with those saying the risk was all ‘AJ’s.

“I think that’s a great fight. Everyone says it’s dangerous fight for AJ but, me personally, I don’t think so. I think Bakole’s very confident. Confident from the sparring, confident from his last two, three performances. I think that works in AJ’s favour. I think he’s gonna walk to AJ with his hands down, try to fight AJ the same way he fought Jared Anderson. He’ll run into a big shot and get knocked out

“Anthony Joshua’s a big puncher. If you stand in front of AJ, he will knock you out. He won’t have to go and look for Bakole, Bakole’s gonna be right in front of him. AJ struggles with people with good boxing and movement.”

As for the infamous sparring sessions in which Bakole claims to have left Joshua on shaky legs, Whyte warned that those gym sessions play out very different than in the professional ring.

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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.

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“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.

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.

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“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.

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

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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.

I will KO him in 3 Minutes, Heavyweight ‘Giant’ Accepts Call To Face Anthony Joshua And Vows To KO Him Inside 3 Minutes

Anthony Joshua is in the market for his next opponent.

The two-time world heavyweight champion is looking to bounce back from a knockout loss at the hands of Daniel Dubois. At 35-years-old, Joshua wants big fights and one last crack at holding a belt again

Turki Alalshikh of both Riyadh Season and the Ring Magazine spoke to TalkSPORT about ‘AJ’s next moves and said he would like to match him up with Congo’s Martin Bakole in Africa

“We are open to see Joshua also against Bakole. I want to see this fight right. I want to see it but you know where I want to see it. I want to see it in Africa.”

With the retirement of Tyson Fury and thus that fight being currently off the table, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn also recently mentioned Bakole as a potential opponent.

Responding to Alalshikh’s tentative plan, Bakole welcomed the fight.

“They keep avoiding me and I’m so happy, and I’d like to thank his His Excellency Turki Alalshikh because he said himself he wants to see this fight [with Anthony Joshua].”

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First up for the ‘African Giant’ is Efe Ajagba in a final eliminator for the IBF’s mandatory spot to face champion Dubois. Bakole recently took issue with ‘AJ’ siding with Nigeria’s Ajagba in that bout, saying he would win in style before beating the Brit in one round.

“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. I invite you to be there. You’re talking s**t. I want to fight you. Stop talking nonsense. Now you’re in Nigeria you’re not British anymore. I’m African giant. After knocking Ajagba out I will knock you out as well.”

Bakole vs Ajagba takes place in May on the same card as Ryan Garcia against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Devin Haney up against Jose Ramirez.