Bakole vs. Anderson: Statistical Breakdown
On August 3 in Los Angeles, USA, the undercard of the Crawford vs. Madrimov showdown will feature a heavyweight bout between Martin Bakole, the top-ranked WBA heavyweight contender, and American prospect Jared Anderson.
Ready To Fight presents the bout where Anderson and Bakole will face a true test.
Jared Anderson
Country: USA
Age: 24
Weight Class: Heavyweight (over 90.7 kg)
Height: 193 cm
Reach: 199 cm
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 17 wins (15 by knockout), 0 losses
KO Percentage: 88.24%
Total Career Rounds: 56
Recent Fights:
- Unanimous Decision (UD) win in 10 rounds against Ryad Merhy
- Technical Knockout (TKO) win in the 5th round against Andriy Rudenko
- UD win in 10 rounds against Charles Martin
- Retired (RTD) win after 3 rounds against George Arias
- TKO win in the 2nd round against Jerry Forrest
Total Rounds in Recent Fights: 30
Average Rounds in Recent Fights: 6
Longest and Shortest Recent Fights: Longest - 10 rounds / Shortest - 2 rounds (TKO win)
KO Percentage in Recent Fights: 60%
Combined Record of Opponents at Time of Fight: 140 wins, 16 losses, 3 draws
Best Opponent Record: George Arias (18-0 at the time of the fight)
Worst Opponent Record: Jerry Forrest (26-5-2 at the time of the fight)
Martin Bakole
Country: Congo
Age: 32
Weight Class: Heavyweight (over 90.7 kg)
Height: 198 cm
Reach: –
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 20 wins (15 by knockout), 1 loss
KO Percentage: 75%
Total Career Rounds: 80
Recent Fights:
- KO win in the 4th round against Carlos Takam
- KO win in the 3rd round against Ihor Shevadzutskyi
- Majority Decision (MD) win in 10 rounds against Tony Yoka
- KO win in the 1st round against Haruna Osumanu
- UD win in 10 rounds against Sergey Kuzmin
Total Rounds in Recent Fights: 28
Average Rounds in Recent Fights: 5.6
Longest and Shortest Recent Fights: Longest - 10 rounds / Shortest - 1 round (KO win)
KO Percentage in Recent Fights: 60%
Combined Record of Opponents at Time of Fight: 87 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw
Best Opponent Record: Tony Yoka (11-0 at the time of the fight)
Worst Opponent Record: Carlos Takam (40-7-1 at the time of the fight)
Fight Background
This is Jared Anderson's first truly significant test. The American has faced boxers deemed capable of testing his class, but Bakole is a genuine benchmark.
Since 2021, Anderson has defeated Oleksandr Teslenko (TKO 2), Jerry Forrest (TKO 2), Charles Martin (UD 10), Andriy Rudenko (TKO 5), and Ryad Merhy (UD 10). They are all solid boxers who have tested Jared in different ways. However, none of them were at their peak in terms of popularity and form like Bakole.
Martin has long sought a high-profile bout. His only career loss is to Michael Hunter, with whom a rematch has yet to materialize. Moreover, considering Hunter's recent setbacks and less notable opponents, a second meeting seems necessary. However, Martin is currently more talked about.
First, Bakole consecutively defeated Yoka, Shevadzutskyi, and Takam. Although Ihor Shevadzutskyi isn't a top-tier boxer and Takam is a veteran, the wins were as convincing as Martin's confidence in himself. Defeating Tony Yoka shocked the community, as the Frenchman went from title contender to a fighter who was subsequently beaten twice more.
Secondly, the publicity surrounding his sparring sessions with Oleksandr Usyk worked in his favor. Bakole is often referred to as "the guy who claims to have beaten Oleksandr in sparring." Usyk's promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, refuted these claims, stating that all sparring footage confirms otherwise. Bakole himself hasn't rushed to provide proof, as the legend benefits him more than proving his statement.
Nonetheless, Martin's boxing skills are worth noting: his pressure, heavy punches, and ability to utilize his weight and size. Anderson will have to work hard to stop such an opponent. He hasn't faced boxers like this before.
Key Facts Before the Fight
- Jared Anderson has started working with trainer SugarHill Steward, who also coaches Tyson Fury. This pairing was recommended by Turki Al ash-Sheikh. The fight against Bakole will be their first together.
- Since 2021, Jared hasn't fought opponents taller than Bakole (198 cm). In 2021, he knocked out Russian Tereshkin (198 cm) in the 2nd round.
- Jared (193 cm) will also be Bakole's tallest opponent in recent years. In his last two bouts, Martin fought shorter opponents than Anderson. However, Yoka, whom Bakole defeated, stands at 201 cm.
- The winner might become a contender for the WBA heavyweight title. Currently, the "super champion" belt is held by Oleksandr Usyk, who is set for a rematch with Tyson Fury in the winter.
The "regular" belt is held by Mahmoud Charr, who might be mandated to fight the winner.