IBF Orders Fight Between Martin Bakole and Agit Kabayel

According to insider Michael Benson, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially ordered a bout between Congolese Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) and Germany’s Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs).

This will be a final eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight world title (over 90.7 kg), currently held by Britain’s Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs).

Earlier, Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom mentioned that Bakole might return to the ring on the undercard of the rematch between WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) and Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs), scheduled for December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In August, Bakole fought in the U.S. for the first time, knocking out the previously undefeated top prospect Jared Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) in the 5th round. Kabayel, in May, scored a 7th-round knockout victory over Frank Sanchez (24-1, 17 KOs).