Martin Bakole is calling out Eddie Hearn for changing his tune following Bakole’s short-notice KO defeat to Joseph Parker last weekend in Riyadh. Initially, Hearn lauded Bakole as an upgrade over Daniel Dubois when he stepped in two days before the fight. But since Parker stopped him, Bakole says Hearn is acting as though taking the Parker bout was a misguided choice.
Bakole compares his situation to Anthony Joshua’s 2019 upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr., where Hearn remained fully supportive of his star fighter despite the knockout. According to Bakole, if Hearn stuck by Joshua, helping him become a two-time world champion, there’s no reason Bakole shouldn't get the same benefit of the doubt after accepting a massive challenge on virtually no notice.
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Bakole still has a May 2 date with Efe Ajagba for an IBF eliminator, which would set him up as a mandatory challenger for Dubois. That’s a tough ask, especially if Bakole isn't in optimum shape and fighting at or below the low-280s range. He feels Hearn's support might have been different had he been in shape and under full promotional backing, rather than a late substitute for a marquee Saudi Arabia event.
Bakole also suspects Hearn aims to shield Anthony Joshua from a potentially dangerous foe. He references past sparring sessions, where, in Bakole’s view, he proved how formidable he can be, and claims that Hearn witnessed these first-hand. Bakole also notes that attempts to push for an "Africa fight" between him and AJ went nowhere because Hearn supposedly fears Bakole's power and size. Whether that’s truly the case or not, Bakole remains eager to prove himself in the ring, pointing to his upcoming eliminator clash with Ajagba as the next step toward a title.
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