Boxer who was ‘knocked out’ by Oleksandr Usyk in sparring backs No.1 ranked heavyweight to hand champion first career defeat
Dave Allen has boldly declared that Oleksandr Usyk could lose if he comes up against No.1 ranked heavyweight Martin Bakole.
Bakole cemented his name at the top of the WBA rankings having stopped undefeated American Jared Anderson on the Riyadh Season USA bill.
3
The Congolese star is in prime position to enforce his challenge when the WBA enforces an opportunity on the belt rotation, against current champion Usyk.
He will want to be in line to face the winner of Usyk's rematch with Tyson Fury which is set for December 21.
Allen, who was famously 'knocked out' by Usyk in their 2020 sparring session and has fought rounds with Bakole, insists it would be a worrying clash for the most recent undisputed champion.
"He is so relaxed, when I sparred him and did the rounds, I couldn't believe a man of that size could put six or seven shots together as well as he did," Allen told .
Read More On Boxing
"I've sparred everyone, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk. but none of them put together shots like he did.
"I have never been by so many different shots, one or two hooks, he's seriously going to take some beating.
"There is no doubt in my mind, Usyk just can't beat him, he beats Usyk I have no doubt.
"He is just way too big and he is just all wrong for him. I can only see Zhilei Zhang giving him trouble.
Most read in Boxing
"Fury and Anthony Joshua too, no-one else has any chance with him."
Bakole's promoter Ben Shalom has claimed he is the 'most avoided' heavyweight, and his latest win has done no end for his reputation in the division.
3
3
The 31-year-old has even already claimed that he himself 'knocked out' Usyk in sparring, a story that has been denied by the Ukrainian.
A whole host of interim options could emerge for Bakole including fights with Zhang and Joseph Parker, who are both well ranked with alternative governing bodies.
Martin Bakole reveals that he once knocked out Oleksandr Usyk in sparring and now nobody wants to fight him
Usyk for now is undefeated and made history in May by beating Fury to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
He has since been forced to vacate his IBF belt to Daniel Dubois, but is still considered the dominant king of the division.
Despite the imminent threat of Bakole, Usyk's team member Sergey Lapin has insisted he could instead move down in weight or fight in MMA.
“He’s proven he’s the best of this generation and, once he’s retired Tyson Fury, he will consider his options," he said.
“Maybe that’s dropping down in weight again, or maybe there’s a wildcard option on the table for him; be it in the boxing ring, the MMA cage, or even Conor McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
“Can you imagine Usyk and Jon Jones fighting to prove they’re the baddest man on the planet? Or maybe it’s a third fight with Anthony Joshua in the MMA cage.
"Maybe it’s Jake Paul at cruiserweight, although Usyk would need to fight him with one hand behind his back though, to make it fair.”
Boxing WhatsApp channel
Get the latest fight news, reaction and the best opinion from talkSPORT pundits in our
Follow our Boxing channel
Topics