Martin Bakole is on the cusp of a massive fight with Anthony Joshua after a long stretch on the fringes of the glamour division.
Several members of the boxing fraternity wrote off the Congolese puncher after falling to the first defeat of his professional career against Michael Hunter in 2018.
It is an unwritten rule in boxing that what happens in sparring stays in sparring yet Bakole is more than happy to delve into the details of his behind-closed-doors bust-ups.
Although these sparring stories have certainly helped build his name, they haven’t benefitted him when it comes to landing the big fights he so desperately desires.
That could, however, be about to change with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently admitting that he is eyeing up a blockbuster showdown between Bakole and Joshua in Africa.
“We are open to see Joshua also against Bakole,” the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority told talkSPORT on Thursday.
“I want to see this fight right. I want to see it but you know where I want to see it. I want to see it in Africa.”
Bakole has been calling for a fight with AJ for quite some time and would jump at the opportunity to duke it out with the Watford powerhouse.
“They keep avoiding me and I’m so happy, and I’d like to thank his His Excellency Turki Alalshikh because he said himself he wants to see this fight [with Anthony Joshua],” Bakole told talkSPORT one day after Alalshikh’s interview.
“People keep avoiding me, the promoters and the boxers.
“But now we have someone giving the fans the good fight they want.
“If you see my video where I called Anthony Joshua out you will see that all the African people were calling for it to happen in Africa.
“Why not Africa? Everyone can’t wait to see me face Anthony Joshua, especially in my country.”
Before Bakole can get on Joshua, he must get through Efe Ajagba first.
The hard-hitting Nigerian was ordered to face Bakole in an IBF final eliminator to determine the major sanctioning body’s mandatory after Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole turned down the opportunity.
IBF heavyweight champion Dubois defends the red and gold strap against Joseph Parker on February 22 in Saudia Arabia.
Whoever emerges victorious from that fight will face the winner of Bakole vs Ajagba in the not-so-distant future.