Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole received a hero’s welcome when the BOXXER fighter returned home to the Democratic Republic of the Congo following his stunning KO win over Jared Anderson at last weekend’s historic Riyadh season card in Los Angeles.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Kinshasa as a police-led motorcade paraded Bakole through the Congolese capital to a special celebratory event hosted at (presidential building?) in honour of the champion boxer.
Bakole claimed the WBO International and NABF Heavyweight Titles with a thudding fifth round stoppage win over Anderson, sending the previously unbeaten American to the canvas three times en route to an emphatic victory.
Bakole’s incredible win moves the heavyweight dangerman even closer to a world title challenge.
The 32-year-old will be keeping a close eye on the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, and has also expressed his willingness to face other top heavyweight contenders including New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and China’s Zhilei Zhang.
Speaking after Bakole win over Anderson, promoter Ben Shalom said:
“That was a devastating performance from Martin Bakole. The whole heavyweight division is now on notice.
“Jared Anderson was brave, he showed a lot of heart, but Martin ground him down and finished him style.
“There are a lot of big fights out there for him – the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Zhilei Zhang, Joseph Parker, Agit Kabayel.
“Martin has been patient. He’s been working hard, waiting for his opportunity, and now, it’s his time. He’s ready to mix it with the best in the world.
“I think Martin Bakole can beat anyone. He is going to cause everyone problems and he can become heavyweight champion of the world.”
Much deserved for knocking out the over hyped Anderson. Anderson should be working on his defense rather than his dance moves.
KK, have you seen Ring Magazine’s P4P
rankings? Canelo is #4 and Bivol is #7.
Devin Haney is #10 (laughable). Usyk is #1.
Monster Inoue #2. Crawford #3. I think Tank
is #8. Not sure how they calculate all that.
Usyk is #1 for beating the Gypsy Queen?
Really? Me thinks they need to tweak those rankings just a little bit. Waiting for all the
angry Ukrainians to start sniping at me.
‘Usyk is #1 for beating the Gypsy Queen?’ Weird comment. You think his P4P rating is based on one fight? Where should he be ranked?
Somewhere in the top 10, for sure.
Numero uno? Nah. Over-ranked
compared to others. Thank you for
sniping at my “weird comment”. Knew there was someone out in the
stratosphere that would disagree.
Thank you for checking that ridiculous statement. Usyk has cleaned up two weight divisions against formidable opponents without a liss.
He gets hit too much to be P4P#1.
Who hit him a lot?
having already beaten anthony joshua twice was likely part of the formula.
AJ is nowhere in the top 10 P4P.
Bivol beats Canelo and is ranked behind Canelo. How’s that for formula?
fair enough maybe their formula is crap when it comes to certain fighters, but a smaller heavyweight beating aj twice and tyson fury is a pretty massive accomplishment. aj isn’t incredible, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t really good. i don’t think usyk is #1, but i don’t think it’s unreasonable to put him there.
there doesn’t seem to be a reasonable formula for canelo. he will be a permanent 4 to 7 ranking at most places no matter who he fights. he’s been coasting for a while. i don’t think he should be in the top 10
i don’t think bivol is #7, but he got a lot of points from most people for beating canelo so it’s fair i guess. i think beterbiev is better but age has to catch up to him at some point.
haney’s a really good fighter, but he shouldn’t be on there
tank produces great results, but his team picks the right guys to fight at the right time. it’s good business, but it makes him hard to rate. i don’t think having him at 8 is unreasonable
If it was up to me I would at least place Beterbiev at #10, and omit
Haney. Crawford over Usyk. That’s
probably going to trigger some people, but oh well. Tank should
be higher than #8.
Nowhere near the top 10 now but surely one should consider where AJ was ranked at the time/s Usyk beat him!
My man, plus! I agree with somewhat. Definitely, on canelo, I don’t think he should even be ranked P4P, that will bring out the snipers! Anyone who doesn’t defend their mandatory is not a P4P fighter. Haney is another laughable one because the optics of someone getting beat, but maintaining his slot on P4P seems like he is getting a participation trophy. I think usyk, inoue, Crawford are interchangeable. All have feats that are very similar. I don’t think you could go wrong any of them. Personal preference? You mentioned beterbiev, that fool should be on there no doubt. Tank? Definitely, a little higher. Haney and canelo have no business on there.
Undisputed at Cruiser and Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, pretty much says it all really.
Killa, you know your boxing.
I picked Bakole to beat Anderson by knockout. I also thought Charles Martin would beat him. Anderson did win but was in serious trouble in the last round.
Who should he fight next?
Me too, Tex. I kinda thought martin would beat him, but when I watched the fight and how he didn’t engage him, I knew he was going to lose. Anderson will go back to the drawing board and personally I don’t think he ever competes at a high level again. He is already had too many law enforcement contacts which tells me he cannot handle the pressure. To me: he has already given up unless he becomes seriously disciplined.
Demented, Dopey & Deceitful Donald Trump!
But would Trump turn up, or just eschew another appointment as unwinnable?
That is absolutely fantastic, good for him! Bakole’s #1 contender for Charr (remember him???). If he can beat that guy (and he can), he might end up champion in a bit.
Well Diamond boy is the WBC Champion and Bakole is ranked #1 so Diamond boy miight have to defend it for the 4th time in 7years
He’s the WBA regular world champion under Usyk. Three fights in the last five years has not fought at all since late 2022…. somehow still champ.
Welcome back Lucie! Haven’t seen you post in awhile!
Awww! You noticed!
Congrats Champ!
These African countries are so mismanaged and have such self-serving and corrupt leaders that all the ordinary person can hope for is the occasional sporting hero!!!!
More corrupt than North American and
Western European countries? Is that why
France is being kicked out of all the former colonial territories? They want their sovereign countries back without the former
puppet masters pulling the strings.
My wife who is from the Philippines once said at least your country, the US, isn’t corrupt like hers. I just rolled my eyes in disbelief and told her the corruption here is so deep so profound and at times so satanic it can take a lifetime to fully see it. It took years but she finally saw it. Where power is great, corruption is also great.
Please go and spend some time in the Philippines and try and get stuff done, you take for granted in the US. It will open your eyes and give you perspective.
In these countries, there are no basic services and the education systems are non-existent. It is a daily struggle. There is a reason people from these countries risk their lives to get into developed countries.
Easily more corrupt. It is not even close. I have lived in Africa for over 50 years and BLACK LIVES DO MATTER HERE. This I can promise you.
Meant to write BLACK LIVES DO NOT MATTER HERE.
Colson, You are absolutely correct on all accounts. I’m in America and I have watched as our values have eroded and how people are entitled here. I came from an era that you worked for what got. Now, people think it should be given to them. I have never visited a third world country, but by some of your descriptions that is only the tip of the iceberg. I am blessed for my country and do not take it for granted because as evidenced during so called COVID lockdowns, my government is willing to take away our rights to gain more power and wealth. I can only imagine what it is like in a country unlike mine. Stay positive. Good day.
Not sure why Anderson was standing right in front of him. Bakole is a big strong guy. But he is also known to have stamina issues. Tire that dude out first!
Anderson should have been turning him, giving him angles and staying back out of reach. Make Bakole chase him for 5 rds and wear himself down and then pick up the punch output.
Instead he stood directly in front and within easy reach where Bakole didn’t have to expend much energy to even touch him. Absolutely terrible strategy!
Anyhow, with that said, Anderson did not take his shots well at all! And Bakole seems like an arm puncher, reminds me of Golota. Big and strong but unable to turn his waist through the punch. Must be the thick frame.
I don’t think Anderson was over hyped. But he doesn’t have the power to deal with Bakole and he didn’t have a game plan either. I’m disappointed because USA doesn’t have any other real prospects ready to take the belts from usyk.
Anderson may be young enough to come back from this loss, but the way he reacted from those arm punches makes me think his career is in serious jeopardy.
i see anderson as a really athletic guy who has gotten pretty far with limited boxing ability. his defense is his offense. i don’t see him being able to blend defensive awareness with his offense at this level.
bakole’s stamina isn’t the greatest, but he wasn’t going to be denied. great performance by him.
good for bakole ! he brings back some memories of big george foreman. hopefully bakole gets a title shot. he is a nice guy too.
Remember me when go back Puerto Rico he deserve.
Remember me when Tito go back to Puerto Rico he deserve the welcome
Zhang, Usyk, Fury will all lose to Bakole.
good for him. lets hope to see him in big fights soon