Congolese heavyweight contender Martin Bakole is not mincing any words around a potential all-African matchup against Anthony Joshua.
Joshua, a British-born-and-based boxer of Nigerian heritage, recently quipped that he believed fellow Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba could beat Bakole.
Bakole, currently ranked No. 6 by The Ring after blasting Jared Anderson inside five rounds in August, is boasting a big game in regard to a possible Joshua bout.
“I want to knock you out,” Bakole said in a video he posted on social media. “I heard you talking s--- saying Ajagba was going to beat me. Shame on you. How many times did I call you out, ask to fight in Africa? You should be ashamed of yourself.
Look at Daniel Dubois, I broke his nose twice and he knocked you out cold. I will knock you out in the first round. You’re talking about Ajagba, he's a baby. Wait until you see how I’m going to knock him out, I want you to be there. You’re talking s---. I want to fight you, stop talking nonsense. Now you say you’re in Nigeria and are not British anymore. I’m the African champ, an African warrior and after knocking Ajagba out, I will knock you out as well.”
Joshua is likely next headed toward a long-awaited Tyson Fury showdown this year after suffering a stunning fifth-round stoppage defeat, the fourth loss of his career, by IBF champion Dubois as a record crowd watched at Wembley on September 21.
Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs), meanwhile, already has his next opponent set in Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs), ranked No. 10 by The Ring. The pair agreed in December to fight in an IBF title eliminator. Bakole vs. Ajagba will take place at a future Riyadh Season show.
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for The Ring. Follow him on X and Instagram.