Heavyweight champion Martin Bakole has called Anthony Joshua an X, telling him he wants to knock him out and angry that AJ predicted that Efe Ajagba will beat him.
Joshua’s Priority In 2025
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has a full plate in front of him in 2025 and is expected to fight Tyson Fury twice this year. If AJ gets through those two fights with wins, he might be interested in fighting Bakole if he holds the title.
Besides, it is unlikely that he and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, would want to fight a dangerous fight with Bakole, who is like another. Sonny Liston with the power he produces with short punches. He doesn’t need to block his shots to land heavy blows, which makes him a bad option for the younger Joshua.
#3 IBF Bakole (21-1m 16 KOs) fights #5 Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) next in the IBF title fight to decide who will challenge champion Daniel Dubois. Bakole, 31, will be knocked out in the fifth round by America’s top contender, Jared Anderson, on August 3 in Los Angeles.
You can’t say you won’t, but it’s possible that AJ and Hearn will choose to fight Bakole because he’s messed them up on every front. Joshua is focused on Fury’s two fights in 2025 and avenging his disappointing fifth round loss to Daniel Dubois on September 21. That was the most ruthless decision of all for Anthony, who was knocked out in front of a crowd of more than 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London.
“Hello, Anthony Joshua, this video is for you. I called [you] outside, I wanted to get you out, and now you say Ajagba will beat me. Shame on you. How many times did I call you? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You should feel ashamed of yourself,” Martin Bakole told X.
“I want to fight with you. Look at Daniel Dubois – I broke his nose twice [in sparring] and brought you out of the cold. I’ll take you out in the first round. Are you talking about Ajagba? Ajagba is a child, wait till you see how I will get him out.”
😡 for you @anthonyjoshua 👊🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/tRXfkDfI0E
– Martin Bakole (@MartinBakole01) January 6, 2025
