Martin Bakole’s trainer has revealed the sense of “opportunity” he and his fighter felt when they were offered Saturday’s fight with Jared Anderson.
The 26-year-old Anderson has perhaps come to be recognised as the world’s most promising heavyweight, and on Saturday, on the undercard of Israil Madrimov-Terence Crawford at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, he confronts Bakole in what represents his biggest test to date.
Bakole, 32 and of Congo, has long sought a defining fight. He impressed in 2022 when defeating France’s Tony Yoka in Paris, but to the frustration of he and his trainer Billy Nelson, he has remained little more than a contender on the fringes.
It is partly for that reason that Nelson openly speaks of his “respect” for Anderson. It is also for that reason that the trainer, despite being confident of victory, isn’t optimistic Bakole’s reward would be to fight the winner of Jarrell Miller-Andy Ruiz – the higher-profile heavyweight fight on the same bill.
“The opportunity came about three hours after the Tyson Fury-[Oleksandr] Usyk fight,” Nelson told BoxingScene. “I got seven or eight missed calls during the night and I phoned the person that called me at six in the morning and the fight was offered and accepted there.
“Then, just minimal discussions – a bit of purses, etc – and that was it. It was fantastic; it was great. You know, it's took a top American to take the fight though – nobody in Britain's got the balls to do it. At least two-and-a-bit years since Yoka. He was ready for that opportunity after Yoka. I mean, we got messed about – and messed about trying to get another promoter. And for one thing or another, it took about eight months to get a promoter. A guy that's just beat an Olympic gold medallist in his hometown – and the manner that he'd done it – and he still struggled to get a promoter.
“I couldn't put it into words – it’s embarrassing and it’s disgraceful.
“It is the opportunity we've been [seeking] for a long time. So many people have avoided him as I'm sure you’re aware. The list goes on and on. But anyway, what’s done is done now. We win this fight, we’ll be right up there alongside the best of them.
“I respect [Anderson] for that, 100 per cent. He’ll be aware of Martin because everybody in Top Rank is very aware of Martin, I can assure you.”
Nelson, who led Ricky Burns to a version of the world lightweight title and later oversaw his defeat by Crawford, was asked what he considered Anderson’s strengths and weaknesses, and he responded: “Anderson's got a good jab. He’s got a good jab. I think defensively he’s got a lot to be desired but that’ll be his downfall. I think his defence is very average for a top-class heavyweight. There’s not a lot of head movement and he can get hurt.
“[But] he’s a good fighter; very good fighter. He's not been tested in deep water yet. I'm very confident Martin will be doing that.
“It just comes with combinations, and we’ve worked together – we've watched them – and we know what kind of combinations that are going to inflict damage on Anderson.
“Crawford versus Madrimov is going to be some fight. An absolutely brilliant fight. But I think Martin’s fight is the second best fight on the bill.”
Discussing the prospect of Bakole fighting the winner of Ruiz-Miller, he added: “I’ll tell you right now, Miller will never fight Martin – never.
“He’s told me that Martin will beat Anderson because he’s too big; he’s too strong; he’s too quick, and he punches so much harder. [Martin and Miller] have sparred pal, at Tyson’s training camp, and he won’t spar him again.”