Martin Bakole breaks silence on inactivity and launches Ben Shalom rant

The career of Martin Bakole has become somewhat of an enigma, with inactivity and a lack of big fights, for the heavy-handed Congolese heavyweight. He has enjoyed high points, but there have also been plenty of frustrations. Bakole has taken to his X account to launch a fiery rant at Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom and update the boxing world on why there is no fight news regarding him.

Martin Bakole launches fiery rant at promoter Ben Shalom

Taking to his X account, Bakole didn’t hold back when updating everyone on his inactivity: 

“For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I

“try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent.”

The career of Martin Bakole

Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KOs) has endured somewhat of a stop-start career. Described by many as the heavyweight bogeyman, he suffered a defeat back in 2018 to the talented American Michael Hunter. Since then, Bakole won 10 fights in a row, including against Tony Yoka, and in more recent times, his high-profile beat-down of Jared Anderson on the Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov undercard.

Bakole stepped up when out of camp to fill in for the ill Daniel Dubois and face Joseph Parker in Riyadh. He was massively out of shape and was stopped in the second round. Since then, he faced Efe Ajagba and escaped with a majority draw, a result many felt he was fortunate to get.

At 34, he still has time and the power to make a splash in the heavyweight division. Can Bakole fulfil his potential, or will he merely be a what-if story for boxing fans to discuss?