Bakole Claims He’s the Only Boxer Who Can Defeat Usyk

Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole has made a bold assertion, stating that he is the only fighter capable of defeating the undefeated Ukrainian champion, Oleksandr Usyk.

Despite a recent setback where he was stopped in two rounds by Joseph Parker, Bakole maintains confidence in his skills. While the defeat has created doubts, the 30-year-old still believes he presents the biggest threat to Usyk’s dominance.

Usyk is scheduled for a second match against British heavyweight Daniel Dubois in July. The Ukrainian boxer’s ambition is to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion.

Boasting an unblemished record of 23 victories, with 14 knockouts, Usyk has triumphed over elite opponents, including Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

In a recent interview, Bakole downplayed Dubois’ chances, claiming that he possesses the unique skill set needed to defeat the southpaw champion.

“Usyk, except for me, defeats everyone,” Bakole stated. “Deontay Wilder, I believe, is finished. Usyk has the boxing intelligence, movement, and experience. Nobody will stop him now—except for Martin Bakole.”

Explaining his self-assurance, Bakole added, “I understand how to corner an opponent and halt a southpaw. I gained this knowledge from my brother, who is also a southpaw. Daniel Dubois lacks that capability.”

Bakole admitted his surprise at Usyk’s wins against Tyson Fury.

“I anticipated Usyk being defeated by ‘The Gypsy King,’ but I was taken aback—he defeated him twice. Joshua is competent, a resilient individual, but he doesn’t know how to cut off the ring. Dubois will never adapt; he sticks to a singular style, and Usyk is significantly superior to him.”

While Bakole had previously made an impression by knocking out Jared Anderson and veteran Carlos Takam, his most recent performance against Efe Ajagba in Saudi Arabia concluded in a disappointing draw—weakening his aspirations of securing a title shot against Usyk.