Martin Bakole Calls Out Zhilei Zhang

Martin Bakole is interested in facing two-time Olympian Zhilei Zhang in a fight in Saudi Arabia, China, the UK, or the U.S. Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) feels he can knockout ‘Big Bang’ Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs). Still, it obviously wouldn’t be an easy fight because he’d be dealing with a puncher with equal power.

Bakole, 31, is coming off a minor upset with the highly touted American Jared Anderson on August 3rd in Los Angeles, and he wants to keep the momentum going with his career.

Despite the impressive win and the notoriety he’s received, Bakole’s chances of getting a fight with one of the popular British fighters, Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury, are nonexistent.

Those two aging Brits are focusing on the money fights, and they’re not going to want to tangle with a dangerous puncher like Bakole, who could ruin everything for them before they exit the game in a couple of years.

Bakole Confident of Victory

Bakole was invisible to those fighters before, and he is even more so after he destroyed what many believe is America’s best heavyweight hopeful.

“I know I can stop him no matter where the fight is. In China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, or America, I’m ready to face him. I know he’s a tough fighter, but I’ll stop him, believe me,” said Martin Bakole to talkSport Boxing about Zhilei Zhang.

The 6’6″ Chinese heavyweight Zhang, 40, is coming off a fifth-round knockout win over former WBC champion Deontay Wilder on June 1st in Riyadh. Zhang’s victory over ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder spoiled plans for a mega-fight between him and Joshua, which would have created a lot of interest for one of the Riyadh Season events.

Zhang might be Bakole’s best option if he can’t get any of the other heavyweights to fight him. He’d like to fight Joseph Parker, who has gained fame with his recent wins against Zhang and Wilder in events in Saudi Arabia.

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh will determine which of these fights will take place. If he wants Zhang vs. Bakole, then that one will happen. Zhang wants to avenge his 12-round majority decision loss to Parker last March. He knocked Parker down twice in that fight but ran out of gas in the second half and couldn’t keep up with all the movement he was using.