Tony Bellew has called out heavyweight boxer Martin Bakole for his poor physical condition. The former cruiserweight champion didn't mince words when he labeled Bakole "a slob" for weighing in at a hefty 320lbs in his recent bout.
Bellew, now 42 and working as a pundit for DAZN, shared his thoughts in an interview with Sporting Talk. The Liverpool native gave Bakole credit for stepping up on short notice but didn't hold back on his critique.
"Martin Bakole is a really good fighter, he's a problem for the heavyweight division. But there's no excuse to be walking around at 320lbs. He's a slob. You've got to live the life as a professional athlete."
Bakole took on Joseph Parker with just 48 hours' notice after Daniel Dubois pulled out of their scheduled title defense. Parker made quick work of the out-of-shape Bakole, stopping him in two rounds and keeping his WBO 'Interim' world title.
The 33-year-old Parker now has a shot at becoming a two-weight world heavyweight champion. His win over Bakole puts him in a strong position for future title opportunities.
Bellew's career gives weight to his words. He won the WBC world cruiserweight title at Goodison Park in 2016, beating Ilunga Makabu. He moved up to heavyweight and defeated David Haye twice before retiring after a loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2018.
Bakole's poor showing against Parker stands in stark contrast to his potential. He was originally set to face Efe Ajagba before the last-minute change. The criticism from a respected figure like Bellew could serve as a wake-up call for the heavyweight prospect.
