Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole called out Anthony Joshua on X, telling him he wanted to knock him out and was offended that AJ predicted Efe Ajagba would beat him.
Joshua’s priorities in 2025
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has a full salary in front of him for 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 has the title.
In addition, it is unlikely that he and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, would want to accept a risky fight against Bakole, who like others Sonny Liston with the power he creates with short shots. He doesn’t need to work on his jabs to land heavy knockout punches, which makes him a poor option for a shaky Joshua.
IBF #3 Bakole (21-1m 16 KO) takes on #5 Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KO) next in an IBF title eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for champion Daniel Dubois. Bakole, 31, is coming off a fifth-round knockout of America’s top heavyweight prospect, Jared Anderson, on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles.
You can never say never, but it is unlikely that AJ and Hearn will ever decide to fight Bakole because he is not for them in every segment. Joshua is more focused on Fury’s two fights in 2025 and avenging his humiliating fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois on September 21. It was the unkindest cut of all for Anthony, knocked out in front of a crowd of over 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London.
“Hey Anthony Joshua, this video is for you. I called [you] out, I wanted to knock you out, and now you say that Ajagba will beat me. shame on you. How many times have I called you names? How many times have I asked you to fight in Africa? You should be ashamed of yourselves,” said Martin Bakole on X.
“I want to fight with you. Look at Daniel Dubois – I broke his nose twice [in sparring] and he knocked you out cold. I will knock you out in the first round. Are you talking about Ajagba? Ajagba is a baby, wait and see how I knock him out.”
😡 for you @anthonyjoshua 👊🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/tRXfkDfI0E
— Martin Bakole (@MartinBakole01) January 6, 2025
