Martin Bakole and Zhilei Zhang could fight next in the final IBF-scheduled bout. The IBF has ordered #4 Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) and #5 Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) to fight next. Zhang-Bakole will be a kind of monster movie fight, a match between two slow but powerful swordsmen with a punching power reminiscent of George Foreman.
If this fight goes off, Bakole will likely meet his match in two-time Chinese Olympian Zhang, who is a major champion with KO power in either hand.
Bakole Faces His First Big Puncher
Zhang can take a punch, so he’ll be around long enough to connect with his shots, and Bakole might not be able to handle that kind of ‘Big Bang’ power.
Although Bakole is a good fighter, he never fought anyone who could punch during his 10 year career. He was drafted in the tenth round by Michael Hunter in 2018. Bakole has won 10 fights since the loss, but he is the best guy he has fought during those six years with Jared Anderson.
He’s not an inexperienced fighter who will square off as Bakole’s last opponent, Jared Anderson, on August 3. Jared looked like a raw rookie and had no business fighting as tough as Bakole at that early stage of his career.
Former WBO interim champion Zhang, 41, destroyed Deontay Wilder earlier this year with a fifth-round knockout on June 1 in Riyadh. Zhang made it look easy to stop former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder. If Zhang has the same form as he did against Wilder, Bakole won’t last long.
Zhang’s Gas Tank Remains Iconic
A tough-looking Zhang lost to Joseph Parker via a 12-round majority decision earlier this year on March 8. Despite knocking Parker down twice in the tournament, this was not one of Zhang’s better performances. He took a breather after three rounds, and all he could do was throw a few punches for the rest of the fight.
That battle showed Zhang’s limitations. He’s a big puncher, but he breathes fast if he can’t get an early knockout, and he makes the heavyweights look good. Parker and Zhang’s battles against Jerry Forrest and Filip Hrgovic are examples of that.
Agit Kabayel was supposed to fight with Bakole but chose another way. On February 22, Kabayel may face IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
Source link
