Ben Shalom, Bakole's promoter, got everyone talking when he claimed a deal was already done. He told BoxNation:
"The promoter of Martin Bakole, that's what I want to be known as. The number one heavyweight in the world. It's done. I'm hearing he's signed and we're off to the Congo."
But journalist Gareth A Davis quickly poured cold water on the idea. He said Joshua's team told him they hadn't even discussed the fight. Davis suggested Bakole's side might be trying to make the fight happen by talking about it, especially since Joshua doesn't have an opponent lined up and Tyson Fury has retired.
Joshua last fought in September, stopping Daniel Dubois in five rounds. He was supposed to fight Tyson Fury this summer, but Fury retired at the start of 2025.
Bakole has been on a roll lately. He stopped Carlos Takam and then beat much-hyped American Jared Anderson. Right now, he's getting ready for an IBF eliminator against Efe Ajagba. That fight is set for May in the USA.
If Joshua and Bakole do end up fighting in Congo, it'll be 51 years after the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974.
For now, though, it looks like we'll have to wait and see if this fight really happens.