Martin Bakole is Looking to Break Through at Jared Anderson’s Expense This Saturday

Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole is big for both fighters.

The heavyweight battle of contenders will take place underneath Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles this Saturday, August 3. It’s as close to a “must-win” bout as possible for fighters just starting to gain acclaim on the boxing main stage.

For the American, Anderson, the bout takes on an exaggerated importance as something that could make or break a floundering American heavyweight scene.

For Bakole, though, there’s no pretense of representing a nation or upholding a nation’s historical dominance. The native of the Congo is just fighting, looking to win to advance a career and showcase his abilities.

“I came to America on business,” the 32-year-old told reporters at Tuesday’s grand arrival at the Santa Monica Pier. “I did not come here to joke, I did not come here to play. I will knockout Anderson.”

Bakole’s resume is thin, as is Anderson’s. But he’s coming into Saturday’s contest following the high-water mark victory of his career– a fourth-round TKO of veteran gatekeeper Carlos Takam.

He’s certainly confident of pushing past his undefeated foe.

“As soon as I start landing and push him back, I don’t think he’ll fight on the back foot,” Bakole recently told BoxingScene. “So as soon as I open up and start throwing or start fighting, I don’t think he’ll stand up.

“I was watching his style – the opponents never give him a hard time, but that will never happen with Martin Bakole. That’s why I was laughing after watching that. To be honest, he never fights someone who fights back.

“The opponent was not punching back. That is what makes me laugh. That means that they choose an easy opponent for him.

“I’m 100 per cent more than all the opponents that he fights, so it’s going to be a surprise. Someone who’s attacking him; giving him a hard time; no time to rest. I think he will give up. Maybe his corner will throw in the towel.

“Nothing impressed me…

“I never saw [Anderson] get a punch. I just only watched one fight. I never saw him get a beautiful left hook or a beautiful body punch or uppercut and survive. I never saw something like that. Maybe I’ll see it in the ring. I don’t know if he’ll survive or he’ll continue.”

Bakole, who now resides in Scotland, is looking at this Anderson fight as a breakthrough to bigger things.

His promoter Ben Shalom of BOXXER also sees the endless opportunities after a win on Saturday.

“It’s the opportunity that Martin needed,” Shalom told Sky Sports. “[Bakole] is the last fighter you want to face, fair play to him taking that, he deserves a lot of credit.

“[Bakole] is that good that no one really wants to fight. This is a fantastic fight. It’s a great opportunity. It’s a 50-50 fight…But you have to say what an opportunity. What an opportunity to create that name to match the talent that we all know Martin has.

“With all the fights going on in the heavyweight division now, this will be Martin’s real breakthrough.”