Eddie Hearn Unveils the Truth Behind Anthony Joshua-Martin Bakole Sparring Sessions
Eddie Hearn Unveils the Truth Behind Anthony Joshua-Martin Bakole Sparring Sessions
Martin Bakole, a notable heavyweight contender, has stirred up considerable interest in the boxing community with his compelling stories about training sessions with some of the division’s top fighters. Among his most intriguing revelations is the claim that he hurt Anthony Joshua during sparring. Bakole, now 31 years old, recently achieved one of the most significant victories of his career when he defeated American prospect Jared Anderson. This victory, which came via a fifth-round stoppage, was a significant boost to Bakole’s reputation and came after years of anticipation and persistence.
Bakole has adopted the moniker ‘the most avoided man on the planet,’ asserting that the top heavyweights in the division are reluctant to face him in the ring due to his impressive performances in training. In a recent interview with TalkSPORT, Bakole went into detail about his past training experiences, boasting of having had a profound impact on some of the biggest names in boxing.
During the interview, Bakole mentioned several high-profile fighters he had sparred with, suggesting that he had inflicted significant damage. “Ask anyone about me,” he challenged. “Go ask Daniel Dubois about me, ask Joshua about me, ask Usyk about me, ask Tyson Fury about me, they will keep quiet. Nobody will say they gave me a hard time. I gave them all a hard time. I stopped Daniel Dubois twice, stopped Joe Joyce and Joshua—oh, that was a big one. He was hurt that day.”
Bakole’s assertion about his encounter with Joshua has garnered particular interest. He claims that he managed to hurt Joshua during their sparring sessions, a statement that adds a layer of intrigue to the dynamic between the two fighters. However, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has recently weighed in on these claims.
In an interview with Box Nation, Hearn provided some insight into the nature of Bakole’s sparring sessions with Joshua. Hearn described these sessions as ‘wars,’ indicating that they were intensely competitive and closely contested. While he did not confirm the specifics of Bakole’s claims, Hearn acknowledged that Bakole’s sparring sessions with Joshua were far from one-sided.
“I think he’s had some great spars. I’ve seen him spar AJ,” Hearn said. “Wars. I don’t know if he dropped Usyk or Dubois or whatever, but I’m sure he’s capable of dropping anyone. Sometimes, you go into a sparring session and you get hurt; maybe you’re not fully switched on, or maybe you have a minor issue. It’s boxing.”
Bakole’s contention that Joshua will never face him in a professional bout stems from these past gym encounters. He believes that his performance in sparring has made Joshua and potentially other top fighters hesitant to face him in a sanctioned match. As Joshua focuses on his upcoming fights, including a bout against Daniel Dubois and a potential clash with the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch, Bakole continues to rise through the ranks with the aim of securing a high-profile fight.
In the broader heavyweight landscape, Bakole’s name is being linked with potential future opponents. There is a growing desire among fans to see him in the ring with Chinese southpaw Zhilei Zhang. This match-up has garnered support from notable figures, including Turki Alalshikh from Riyadh Season, who has expressed interest in facilitating such a fight.
As Bakole’s career progresses and his claims about past sparring sessions continue to spark debate, the boxing community remains keenly interested in seeing how his career unfolds. Whether or not Bakole will face Joshua or other top contenders in the near future remains to be seen, but his recent performances and intriguing stories from the gym certainly have positioned him as a significant figure in the heavyweight division.
