Martin Bakole is Ready to Face Tony Yoka
Top heavyweight contender Tony “La Conquete” Yoka (11-0, 9ko) is revisiting an old fight with fellow heavyweight Martin Bakole llunga (17-1, 13ko). Yoka was supposed to face the Democratic Republic Of The Congo native Bakole for a December showdown. But, to everyone’s shock, team Yoka shifted gears when a fight with former title contender Carlos Takam instead was announced.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
The #6 IBF, #11 WBC, and #14 (WBO, WBA) contender, La Conquete, was reportedly to fight Takam in front of the hometown crowd in Paris on January 15. However, the former title contender had to pull out due to suffering an injury. This forced team Yoka to go back to the Bakole fight.
Bakole is the younger brother of WBC cruiserweight champion llunga Makabu. The same Makabu handpicked by Mexican mega-star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for a possible fight on the traditional Cinco de Mayo holiday in 2022. Ranked #11 (WBA), #14 (WBC), and #15 (IBF), he has victories over former title contenders Kevin Johnson and Mariusz Wach.
The only blemish on his resume is a tenth-round stoppage at the hands of heavyweight contender Michael “Bounty” Hunter back in 2018. Bakole is on a six-fight winning streak with a solid win over Sergey Kuzmin to capture the vacant WBC International title. Furthermore, he was a sparring partner for former unified champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua.
Lead trainer Billy Nelson was confident his fighter would stop Yoka when it was first assumed they would fight in December.
“Martin will go over there and knock him out, I believe…We don’t care where it is….Martin is much better than anyone he [Yoka] has fought.”
It is a good fight between two rising heavyweight prospects. Understand, there is a lot at stake as the winner will move towards a future title opportunity. Meanwhile the loser will have to go back to the drawing board.
Bakole went on social media with a message for the hard-punching Frenchman.
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By: Garrisson Bland
