Bakole’s Trainer Confirms Next Opponent and Warns Usyk

Billy Nelson, the trainer of Congolese heavyweight boxer Martin Bakole (21-0, 16 KOs), revealed that his fighter’s next opponent will be Nigerian Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs).

Nelson is also convinced that Bakole would prevail in a potential clash against the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs):

“Martin will fight Efe Ajagba. We already have a date and venue for the bout. The official announcement will be made soon.

This fight will be the main event, and the fans will be pleased. After that, we’ll likely set up a world title fight.

Martin is the best heavyweight out there, and he’s capable of defeating Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk knows Martin has all the necessary skills to beat him. We just need the chance.”

In August, Bakole knocked out Jared Anderson in the fifth round. In April, Ajagba scored a split-decision victory over Guido Vianello.

Earlier, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti mentioned that representatives for Martin and Efe reached an agreement to organize the fight.

According to Moretti, the bout was initially planned for February 22 on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch, but it was moved to a subsequent Riyadh Season event.