Martin Bakole, a 31-year-old heavyweight boxer from Congo, has opened up about his sparring experiences with some of boxing's biggest names. The fighter claims he's outperformed most of his sparring partners, but admits Tyson Fury gave him his toughest test.
Bakole didn't hold back when discussing his sparring sessions. He says he stopped Oleksandr Usyk with a body shot, broke Daniel Dubois' nose twice, and hurt both Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce. These bold statements have raised eyebrows in the boxing world.
In an interview with The Independent, Bakole reflected on how these sparring sessions might have affected his career:
"The only mistake I made, and even my coaches are telling me, is that they allowed me to spar these top guys. These guys know they don't belong where they are now, because if I stand with them, I give them problems."
When it comes to Tyson Fury, though, Bakole sings a different tune. He describes their sparring as competitive and evenly matched:
"He's the only man where we shared a ring and it was 50-50. When we spar, everyone in the gym is quiet, focused, watching us. I give him a fight, he gives me a fight back, and I always learn a lot."
Bakole even compared their sparring sessions to the legendary battles between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, highlighting the intensity and quality of their exchanges.
The Congolese boxer's claims aren't just talk. He recently backed up his words with a impressive victory over rising American star Jared Anderson. Bakole stopped Anderson in five rounds, proving he can hang with the best in the division.
Bakole describes himself as a "machine" in the ring, saying he doesn't get tired and keeps coming forward. With his recent win and bold sparring claims, he's certainly making a case for himself as a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division.
As the heavyweight landscape continues to evolve, with Usyk recently holding all the belts and Dubois now also a world champion, Bakole's rise adds another interesting element to the mix. Time will tell if he can turn these sparring stories into championship success.
