BoxRec

Martin Bakole will knock out Tony Yoka after accepting offer for a 'breakthrough fight', says Billy Nelson

Martin Bakole will prove that he is "capable of beating anyone in the heavyweight division" by stopping Tony Yoka, his trainer Billy Nelson said.

Bakole has accepted an offer to fight Yoka in France in December, according to Nelson.

"We are just waiting on confirmation," he told Sky Sports.

We want a breakthrough fight for Martin."

DR Congo-born and Scotland-based Bakole has won 17 of his 18 fights, and in the shape of the undefeated Yoka who won the 2016 Olympic gold medal, he may have found a fight to propel himself towards the top of the division.

Nelson insisted Bakole had no hesitation to accept a fight with Yoka: "None whatsoever.

"Martin will go over there and knock him out, I believe.

"I do genuinely believe Martin is capable of beating anyone in the heavyweight division.

"We don't care where it is, although it will be harder in France.

"Yoka is a big, strong guy. The bigger the better for Martin, who sees it as a challenge.

"Martin has more speed. Yoka is technically very good but he still boxes like an amateur - he has stated that [learning a pro style] is what he's learning from Virgil Hunter, who is a great trainer.

"Martin is much better than anyone he has fought."

Nelson said that a victory over Yoka would insert Bakole into the world title picture: "Let's be perfectly honest - it would supersede anything that Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois has done.

"Martin would beat both of those quite comfortably.

"We would fight Filip Hrgovic in a heartbeat too. He is an easier fight than Yoka because he doesn't have the speed or skill that Martin has. Hrgovic is very strong but Martin would beat him.

"Someone asked me: 'Why don't you fight Alen Babic?'

"Because it would be a mismatch of epic proportions! I would be disappointed if that fight saw the fourth round."

before the Ukrainian won the IBF, WBA and WBO titles from Anthony Joshua.

"A representative of Usyk's team told us that Martin is definitely capable of being a world champion," Nelson said. "They were very complimentary.

"It went brilliantly for Martin.

"Martin's brother is Ilunga Makabu [the current WBC cruiserweight champion]. It's who Martin learned to box from. He sparred every day for a year with his brother so he doesn't have a problem with southpaws."

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Nov 2021, 11:57

Why the fornicate would yoka pay Bakole 300,000 Euros.... Bakole has struggled to get fights cause risk reward is wrong, now somenes giving him 300,000 euro.

Hope the fight happens but that sounds fishy.

That's like 250k ?
Seems a lot

That's like 8 or 9 prizefighters wins?

That’s a really good match up. Hope it happens

Bakole always strong but in Tyson's word's a woodentop, has he really got the edge in speed ??
Got to favour Yoka in this one on points .
Would think Yoka is betting favourite and I always root for the underdog , so happy to be proved wrong .

Due to Nelson's sheer insanity towards Bakole's ability, I hope Yoka wins, then Billy can stop banging on about how great Bakole is. When he clearly isn't.

higgs88 wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:24 Due to Nelson's sheer insanity towards Bakole's ability, I hope Yoka wins, then Billy can stop banging on about how great Bakole is. When he clearly isn't.

He just another Tunde isn’t he?

Makes you root against their boxers.

Yoka will stop an exhausted Bakole in 8 rounds. With the thought that if he had trained he could've won.

higgs88 wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:24 Due to Nelson's sheer insanity towards Bakole's ability, I hope Yoka wins, then Billy can stop banging on about how great Bakole is. When he clearly isn't.

Credit to big billy. He had me beiving untill that kuzman fight. Say somthing enough it chips into your brain. I had the "hunter was an off night he shouldnet of been fighting" drilled into my head (which may be true), then of the back off that he just kept saying he was incredible and i started to belive. Cant unsee that Kuzman fight though, unless he is brilliant with a lot of off nights...

If you think your going to hear less from billy if bakole chins yoka, you are living in fantsy camp.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:18 Yoka will stop an exhausted Bakole in 8 rounds. With the thought that if he had trained he could've won.

Those were my thoughts … if Bakole turns up ready to fight 10/12 rounds he could win ..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:59

higgs88 wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:24 Due to Nelson's sheer insanity towards Bakole's ability, I hope Yoka wins, then Billy can stop banging on about how great Bakole is. When he clearly isn't.

He just another Tunde isn’t he?

Makes you root against their boxers.

Not quite. I thought Billy did a really good job with Ricky Burns. He also doesn’t talk about himself in the 3rd person and I’ve never heard him talk about lions. Has Tunde ever trained a fighter to a decent win?

maverick23 wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:32

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:59

higgs88 wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 14:24 Due to Nelson's sheer insanity towards Bakole's ability, I hope Yoka wins, then Billy can stop banging on about how great Bakole is. When he clearly isn't.

He just another Tunde isn’t he?

Makes you root against their boxers.

Not quite. I thought Billy did a really good job with Ricky Burns. He also doesn’t talk about himself in the 3rd person and I’ve never heard him talk about lions. Has Tunde ever trained a fighter to a decent win?

I’m fairly sure I have heard Nelson talk about taking it to the road……

I like Bakole, he took a shell-hacking against Hunter but showed a lot of heart. I guess Billy sees something in the gym, or he wouldn’t be putting his reputation on the line by talking him up so much…
but fair enough if it gets him noticed.

Excellent fight with the Frenchman favourite on home ground, but could be his toughest test and this is Martin’s big chance, if he’s as good as they say..

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:24 I like Bakole, he took a shell-hacking against Hunter but showed a lot of heart. I guess Billy sees something in the gym, or he wouldn’t be putting his reputation on the line by talking him up so much…
but fair enough if it gets him noticed.

Excellent fight with the Frenchman favourite on home ground, but could be his toughest test and this is Martin’s big chance, if he’s as good as they say..

I like him too. Gritty battler.
Hey, didn't he suffer a rotator cuff injury as well in the Hunter fight?

Edit: "Nelson was captured by cameras urging Bakole not to quit despite the Nigerian-born boxer stating he was injured and pleading for help after eight rounds.

Bakole was sent out by Nelson and subsequently stopped by Hunter in the final session."

knockout wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:26

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:18 Yoka will stop an exhausted Bakole in 8 rounds. With the thought that if he had trained he could've won.

Those were my thoughts … if Bakole turns up ready to fight 10/12 rounds he could win ..

Reminds me a bit of A-Force vs Rogie.
Blue collar B side vs The Olympian. On paper it’s a mismatch, but Yoka possibly got something missing…
Good fight

skanksta wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:28

knockout wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:26

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:18 Yoka will stop an exhausted Bakole in 8 rounds. With the thought that if he had trained he could've won.

Those were my thoughts … if Bakole turns up ready to fight 10/12 rounds he could win ..

Reminds me a bit of A-Force vs Rogie.
Blue collar B side vs The Olympian. On paper it’s a mismatch, but Yoka possibly got something missing…
Good fight

They haven’t paid Bakole 300,000 to win

KiwiRider wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:28

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:24 I like Bakole, he took a shell-hacking against Hunter but showed a lot of heart. I guess Billy sees something in the gym, or he wouldn’t be putting his reputation on the line by talking him up so much…
but fair enough if it gets him noticed.

Excellent fight with the Frenchman favourite on home ground, but could be his toughest test and this is Martin’s big chance, if he’s as good as they say..

I like him too. Gritty battler.
Hey, didn't he suffer a rotator cuff injury as well in the Hunter fight?

Yeh think you’re right, recall it was some injury he had, as well as a nightmarish beatdown. To be honest I just checked and hadn’t realised he’d had those fight since then, I somehow missed them, anyway I’d love to see him win this one in Paris. Big time fights await the winner .

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:35

skanksta wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:28

knockout wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 15:26
Those were my thoughts … if Bakole turns up ready to fight 10/12 rounds he could win ..

Reminds me a bit of A-Force vs Rogie.
Blue collar B side vs The Olympian. On paper it’s a mismatch, but Yoka possibly got something missing…
Good fight

They haven’t paid Bakole 300,000 to win

You think he’s cashing out ?!
Win this and he’s (almost) in the big time.

skanksta wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 17:11

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:35

skanksta wrote: ↑02 Nov 2021, 16:28

Reminds me a bit of A-Force vs Rogie.
Blue collar B side vs The Olympian. On paper it’s a mismatch, but Yoka possibly got something missing…
Good fight

They haven’t paid Bakole 300,000 to win

You think he’s cashing out ?!
Win this and he’s (almost) in the big time.

No way. Bakole is dedicated.
Smear the ring with the dirty frenchie

Very Possible.
Yoka has got the lot on paper, but I think he’s easily discouraged a la Audley.

2 men with plenty of hype. It's a good fight if it happens.

French heavyweight Tony Yoka has announced on Twitter that his next fight will go ahead January 15 in Paris Bercy. against an opponent to be announced.

Various sources have reported that a showdown against Martin Bakole (17-1) was possible but that has yet to be confirmed.

Yoka is unbeaten in eleven fights against decent opponents and has won clearly but it must be said that the "fire" is missing.

Hope its Bakole. This is an epic Jan 15th fight. Normaly a pretty grim time of year cause noone wants to be deep in camp for chrissmass.

gregregegg wrote: ↑04 Nov 2021, 15:13 Hope its Bakole. This is an epic Jan 15th fight. Normaly a pretty grim time of year cause noone wants to be deep in camp for chrissmass.

Me too, and I'm trying to remain optimistic.
But they have been moving Yoka so slowly.. That this seems a bigger step up than you would expect. Either that or I rate Bakole, which I do.