Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, faces a bold claim from Martin Bakole. The WBA's top-ranked heavyweight says Usyk won't fight him because he stopped the champ in sparring.
Usyk cemented his place in boxing history this May. He beat Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight king. This win added to his already impressive resume as the former undisputed cruiserweight champ.
But Bakole isn't impressed. He's gunning for a world title shot within a year. His recent upset knockout of Jared Anderson has put him in a strong position. Now, he's taking aim at the top.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Bakole made a startling claim:
"Usyk, I don't think he would say yes [to fighting me] because I stopped him as well in Dubai in sparring. He knows how good I am so I doubt he'll say yes. I'm telling the truth!"
Bakole's trainer, Billy Nelson, backed up this claim. He told IFL TV:
"He's sparred Fury, Joshua and Usyk and held his own each and every time. He stopped Usyk in sparring, so why would he not think he could beat him. It's fact, it's fact. I mean have you ever heard Usyk saying it never happened?"
Despite Bakole's claims, he might have to wait for his shot at the title. Usyk is set for a rematch with Tyson Fury in December. Anthony Joshua is also in the mix, with a fight against Daniel Dubois for the IBF title planned for September.
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Bakole's path to a title shot isn't clear. But he's made his intentions known. He believes he has what it takes to beat the best. Now, he'll have to prove it in the ring.