Boxing
Dangerous contender or eventual gatekeeper? Martin Bakole prepares for comeback after Joseph Parker knockout
Watch Bakole vs Ajagba tonight live on DAZN PPV
Boxing's own Bat Signal lit up the Riyadh skyline on February 20 when IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois withdrew from his title defence against Joseph Parker.
The pair were set to co-main Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol's undisputed light heavyweight title rematch two days later, but now the New Zealander had no opponent.
Cue the scramble to ensure the former world champion could still get a bout in the ring - and then came a post on social media from coach Billy Nelson touting his man.
Within a few hours, Martin Bakole was on his way to Riyadh despite being out of fighting shape, arriving the morning of fight night and clocking in at 310lbs for his chance.
Even with his ability to spring surprises, few gave him a chance of beating one of the division's most in-form fighters - and in the end, Parker dominance reigned supreme.
Bakole was static, lacked movement and his punches failed to carry the power which made him a heavyweight bogeyman, dispatched by a right hand in the second round.
(Ring Magazine)Reporting on the fight, this unsurprising outcome led me to question whether his stock had taken a hit just as he was on precipice of forcing himself into the word title picture.
Less than three months later though, Bakole is back, as he fights tonight beneath Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and William Scull undisputed super middleweight bout on DAZN PPV.
- Read next | Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba turn up the heat at press conference ahead of Saturday showdown
In the opposite corner will be Efe Ajagba, a heavy-handed Nigerian who has similar aspirations to Bakole when it comes to earning a place at the heavyweight division’s top table.
Before he was picked for a last-minute dance with Parker, Bakole had been due to meet his latest opponent in an IBF title eliminator, to tee up a shot at the crown down the line.
With his world title shot on the horizon though, it vanished when he was dropped on unsteady legs in the late-winter Saudi Arabian cold of a February night in the Middle East.
After stopping the highly rated Jared Anderson in 2024, Bakole had announced himself and looked primed for the big time. Now, he knows one loss can change everything.
The Congolese star needs to rebuild to reach those heights once again, and will hope to do so after a build-up to this return that has offered more ideal preparations for his bid.
With no training camp or rest time, plus a cross-continetal plane journey to Riyadh, Bakole had been in the worst condition anyone could be for a fight with a world title contender.
Now, he has the opportunity to right those wrongs, and prove his motivation trumps any scar tissue, with his social media suggesting he is ready to silence the doubters.
His trainer Nelson is also confident a stark contrast in preparations between his fights with Parker and Ajagba will put him in good stead for this contest.
For Bakole, who arrived in Riyadh on April 20, the chance to acclimatise will have helped in advance, while he can consider his last fight as something of a worthwhile reset too.
He may have been the talk of the boxing world, but sometimes fighters need to be humbled and the 31-year-old certainly experienced that on his last visit to the ring for a clash.
Whether Bakole is ready or not, fight fans will find out tonight when the opening bell rings in the Saudi Arabian capital. But one thing is for certain - he needs to be.
Win and he will be the contender talk of the town once more in a crowded division. Lose, and questions will linger if he is destined to become just another gatekeeper.
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