Daniel Dubois gets ready to defend his IBF Heavyweight title against a challenger who's full of confidence. Martin Bakole has vowed to stop the champion in the first round.
Dubois, known as "Dynamite," got his hands on the belt last June. The 27-year-old Londoner moved up from 'Interim' status after Oleksandr Usyk gave up the title following his win over Tyson Fury.
The champ's first defense was a big one. He knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium last September. That win cemented Dubois as a force in the heavyweight division.
Now, Bakole wants his shot. The 31-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been on a tear, winning his last ten fights. Eight of those wins came by knockout.
Bakole's most recent victory was a big one. He knocked out Jared 'Big Baby' Anderson in the fifth round. Anderson, a 25-year-old American prospect, had never lost before.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Bakole didn't hold back about his chances against Dubois:
"Daniel Dubois? Knock him out first round or second round."
Bakole's confidence comes from more than just his recent wins. He claims to have stopped Dubois twice in sparring.
Before Bakole can get his title shot, he's got one more hurdle to clear. He's set to face Efe Ajagba in May in a final eliminator for the IBF heavyweight title.
Promoter Ben Shalom explained what's at stake:
"If Bakole beats Efe Ajagba in May, he will be mandatory challenger to fight for the IBF world title, and we will be looking to enforce that mandatory immediately. He will be front of the queue and that fight will have to happen next."
There's one more factor that could shake things up. Dubois has to defend his title against Joseph Parker on February 22. If Dubois wins, the path is clear for a showdown with Bakole later this year.
