In the latest ranking published by the WBA, the World Boxing Association, Martin Bakole appears at the rank of world number one heavyweight. A great first for an African boxer which could offer the native of Kananga (Democratic Republic of Congo) the opportunity to compete for a world champion title.
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After five years spent in second place in the WBA heavyweight rankings, Martin Bakole finally reached first place in the rankings of one of the four major world boxing federations. A milestone for the Congolese boxer but also for an entire continent since he thus becomes the first African to occupy this first place among heavyweights. He thus dethrones the Englishman Anthony Joshua, the New Zealander Joseph Parker is third in the ranking.
Long in the shadows, Martin Bakole revealed himself to the general public by beating Frenchman Tony Yoka in May 2022 who has not returned since. Last November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Congolese made short work of another Frenchman, Carlos Takam, forcing the referee to stop the fight during the fourth round.
Confined at the start of his career to a role as sparring partner, notably of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Martin Bakole turned pro in 2014 at the age of 21. Under the orders of Billy Nelson with whom he trains in Scotland, the pugilist fought 23 fights: 22 victories including 14 by knockout and one defeat.
Soon a fight for the world title?
An impressive record which, however, did not give him the opportunity to compete for the title of world champion, which could soon change with this new place of world number one. No title holder has in fact yet wanted to face the Congolese, in particular for marketing reasons but also for fear of facing the colossus of 1m98 and 120 kg according to his trainer who described him in 2020 as the heavy “ the most avoided on the planet “. “ Boxers are smart. They know. When he manhandles someone in sparring, the guy goes home and tells himself that he has no interest in facing him in combat », explained Billy Nelson in an interview with the English newspaper The Sun.
Read alsoMartin Bakole: “Tony Yoka is a good boxer but I am better than him”
It will therefore now be difficult for promoters to ignore the new world heavyweight number one when the question of organizing a fight for the title of WBA world champion, held for the moment by the German of Syrian origin , Mahmoud Charr, will arise.
Pride of the DRC
This new status is in any case the pride of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The singer Gims, for example, immediately shared the new WBA ranking on his Instagram account to congratulate Martin Bakole, reports our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mwangala.
For Mons Monsheju, journalist at Canal Mercure, Kinshasa television, this world number one position is not really a surprise. “ I’m not very surprised. Bakole is a great and very good boxer who is progressing a little more every day. Now it’s the title and big fight he wants. I think this position will help him, in any case, to achieve this “, he explains.
David Tshama, known as “Lionheart”, ABU African middleweight boxing champion, sees this as a new source of motivation for Martin Bakole. “ I think it’s the pinnacle of what a boxer can dream of. It is a source of pride first of all for us, the Congolese boxers. He pushes us, who are his fans, to go even further and also seek to be, perhaps, the third person to reach this international level, and perhaps be first in the federation rankings. », concludes the boxer.