Martin Bakole Predicts Knockout Wins For Himself And Fury In Usyk Rematch

Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole is predicting knockout wins both for himself against Jared Anderson and for Tyson Fury in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Bakole (20-1-0 15 KO) takes on the highly-rated and unbeaten Jared Anderson (17-0-0 15 KO) on Saturday at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as part of the Riyadh Season mega-card, led by Terence Crawford’s super-welterweight world title fight against WBA champion Israil Madrimov.

This weekend’s bout has plenty of high stakes, with both Bakole and Anderson holding ambitions of climbing the heavyweight standings toward a world title opportunity. Anderson, who Fury once described as a future world champion, is considered the marginal favorite, although Bakole has generally fought higher-level opponents.

“He’s never fought someone who’s fighting back. He’s never fought someone who’s coming forward,” Bakole told Sky Sports. “His level is high, I respect him.

“[But] he will give up and as soon as he starts boxing on the back foot, I will punish him. That is what is going to happen. I’m not going to test him, I’m going to fight him. He will not stand [and fight] because if he stands it’s a knockout.

“I’ve been in the ring with some people that are attacking me, giving me a fight. I’m used to it. But not him. He’s used to controlling people, doing stuff he likes. I think he will give up, with my power, my strength. This means a lot. I want to be a champion.”

As part of Bakole’s goal to become a champion, the 32-year-old has outlined his desire to fight Fury after backing the former lineal and unified champion to defeat Usyk in their December rematch.

Fury took the first defeat of his professional career in May when he was beaten on a split-decision by Usyk, who made history as the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era.

Should Fury, who was close to getting knocked out in the ninth round, win the rematch, he would join an exclusive club of three-time heavyweight world champions; only Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, and Evander Holyfield have achieved the feat, although Anthony Joshua will add himself to the list if he beats IBF title holder Daniel Dubois in September.

Bakole is convinced Fury will become a three-time champion after accusing the Gypsy King of not taking the first fight seriously enough.

“I was surprised [when Usyk beat Fury],” he said. “I was not only surprised by Usyk, I was surprised by Tyson Fury’s performance. He was playing. He was supposed to be focused like he was in the Deontay Wilder rematch.

“If he takes that mentality in the rematch I think he will stop Usyk like he did with Deontay. Because the Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury rematch, we saw a different Tyson Fury, focused, coming to win.

“Putting his hands behind his back, not moving, that is showing that you’re not focused,” Bakole added. “One round changed everything One left hook changed everything. I want him to be 100 per cent focused, not playing around. “[Usyk] is coming 100 per cent focused to win the fight. So you need to be the same.”