‘That’s a Fight I’d Love’: Martin Bakole Sets Sights on Massive Heavyweight Clash in December

On the undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, we saw Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) defeat Jared Anderson by fifth-round stoppage. The dangerous Congolese-born fighter floored Anderson in the first round and seemed to hurt the American every time he landed. Bakole knocked Anderson down on a further two occasions before referee Jerry Cantu stepped in to wave the fight off. Many possible options have been mentioned for the 32-year-old, but he’s now revealed a fight he wants and where he would like it to happen.

Martin Bakole Targets Big Fights After Jared Anderson Win

Martin Bakole Identifies Zhilei Zhang Fight

Bakole propelled himself to the top table in the heavyweight division with his destruction of Anderson, and now the big punching Airdrie resident appears to be looking at Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) as a further stepping stone towards an eventual world title shot: “I would love to fight big Zhang in December in China,” Bakole recently told Sky Sports. “I heard His Excellency wanted to make the fight in China so that’s the fight I’m looking for. If that happens I’ll be so happy.

He continued: “I’m ready to fight big Zhang in China before his fans. I always fight outside, I went to America and stopped Anderson, I went to Paris and beat Tony Yoka so I would love to go to China and beat Zhang in front of his fans, that’s a fight I’d love and I’m looking forward to it.”

Ben Shalom Talks Bakole vs. Zhang

BOXXER CEO and promoter Ben Shalom has had his say on Bakole and the potential fight against Zhang: “Martin Bakole is hungry, and he’s ready to make his mark on the world stage.” Shalom continued: “A clash with Zhilei Zhang is exactly the kind of blockbuster fight that boxing fans deserve, two heavyweight titans going toe-to-toe.”

Tantalisingly, Shalom added: “This is a fight that could shake the division to its core, and we’re here to make it happen. The world wants to see it, and so do we. Let’s give the fans what they want!”

Billy Nelson Backs His Fighter

Bakole’s long-term trainer Billy Nelson, has had his say on the magnitude of Bakole vs. Zhang and backed his man to get the job done: “It would be a great challenge for Martin fighting in China against Zhang, one we’d relish,” said Nelson. “There would be millions of eyes on it.”

Predicting the outcome, Nelson said: “I would be very confident Martin would stop Zhang probably before the eighth, Ithink he’s too fast and too sharp, his engine is far superior to Zhang’s.”

He added: “We know Zhang is dangerous early doors with his left hand, but it would be a challenge we’d be up for and very confident of winning.”