Bakole, who's from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has a strong record of 21 wins and just 1 loss. He's knocked out 16 of his opponents. His latest victory came on a big stage in Los Angeles, during Riyadh Season's first event outside of Saudi Arabia.
In that fight, Bakole didn't waste time. He knocked Anderson down in the first round and kept the pressure on throughout. The fight ended in the fifth round with a tough finish. This win was a big statement for Bakole on a major platform.
Bakole's on a roll with 10 straight wins. He's beaten some tough opponents like Olympic medalist Tony Yoka and the always-difficult Carlos Takam. His only loss came against Michael Hunter. Bakole's even claimed he's hurt or stopped some of the division's best fighters in sparring sessions.
Now, everyone's wondering who's next. There's talk about fights with Zhilei Zhang, Joseph Parker, or Agit Kabayel. Fans seem most excited about a Bakole vs Zhang matchup. Turki Alalshikh, the promoter, also likes this idea.
Joseph Parker's name keeps coming up too. He said:
"I was told there was there was a fight in September, then October, and now I'm told there was a fight in December. I've been training since April and I've put on about 20 pounds… of muscle, I hope. I'm ready to fight anyone, anywhere, seriously. I'm in great shape and I'm ready to go."
Parker beat Zhang by decision in March, and Zhang wants a rematch. If Bakole and Zhang end up fighting, we might see Parker take on Kabayel instead.
Whatever happens, Bakole's next fight will be a big deal for the heavyweight division. He's proven he can hang with the best, and now he's looking to keep that momentum going.