At the heart of a controversy after receiving 100,000 US dollars from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for a fight that did not take place, the Congolese boxer Martin Bakole disputed and won the “shock” on Saturday April 22 against Ukrainian Ihor Shevadzutskyi.
A victory by stoppage of the referee in the third round, Martin Bakole did not miss his return to the rings. Even if it was against a boxer, 52nd in the world, who is far from wearing his nickname “Hulk”, the Congolese boxer (18th in the world) was keen to fight this fight, just to “rehabilitate” after “the $100,000 case.
Two months ago, the man who had inflicted on the French Olympic champion Tony Yoka his first defeat among the pros, had triggered a lively controversy after receiving US$100,000 from the Congolese government. This large sum was given to him for preparations for a fight that no one seemed to know about and which will never take place. The alleged adversary, Michael Hunter, the only man to have beaten Martin Bakole, had himself denied the holding of this face-to-face.
The native of Kananga is therefore accused of “fraud” and criticized on social networks. On Saturday, he finally had a fight and showed that he may have “made good use” of the $100,000.
In any case, he can estimate that his rehabilitation, if there was any question, was on the right track since he was congratulated by the Congolese Minister of Sports after his victory over “Hulk. He took the opportunity to make a request: I have another big fight coming up. It can be organized in the DRC if you want “, he launched to the minister. Will the Congolese state have to put its hands in its pocket?