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Martin Bakole is not one to mince words, and he's got plenty to say about Anthony Joshua. The heavyweight contender lit up social media this week with a fiery video aimed squarely at the former unified champ. Bakole accused Joshua of avoiding a fight with him and took offense to AJ predicting that Efe Ajagba, Bakole's next opponent, would beat him.
"Hey, Anthony Joshua, this video is for you," Bakole began. "I called [you] out, I wanted to knock you out, and now you're saying Ajagba is going to beat me. Shame on you."
Bakole didn't stop there. He brought up Joshua's recent loss to Daniel Dubois in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley and claimed dominance over Dubois in sparring. "I broke [Dubois'] nose twice in sparring, and he knocked you out cold,"Bakole said."I will knock you out in the first round."
He also took a shot at Ajagba, calling him a "baby" and promising to dispatch him in their IBF eliminator."Wait till you see how I'm going to knock him out," Bakole added.
Bakole eyes title shot while Joshua focuses on Fury showdowns
Currently ranked #3 by the IBF, Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) is gearing up for a showdown with Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) in a title eliminator. The winner will earn a shot at IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Bakole is coming off an impressive fifth-round knockout of Jared Anderson in August, a performance that solidified his status as a rising force in the division.
Joshua, meanwhile, has his hands full. The former champ is set to fight Tyson Fury twice in 2025, with hopes of reclaiming his status at the top of the division. A fight with Bakole seems unlikely, unless a title is on the line. Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn are unlikely to risk a bout against someone with Bakole's power and style without a major reward.
For now, Joshua hasn't responded to Bakole's comments, but fans are taking notice. While AJ focuses on Fury and potentially a rematch with Dubois, Bakole is making sure his name stays in the mix. Whether or not this fight ever happens, one thing's for sure: Bakole isn't backing down.