BY RANDOM HITS
February 26, 2024
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Ben Shalom has said he is trying to negotiate a WBA final eliminator for heavyweight contender Martin Bakole.
Bakole is 20-1 (15 KOs) having stopped Carlos Takam in Saudi Arabia last October, with his lone loss coming against Michael Hunter in 2018, and Bakole has won nine since.
The WBA has ordered Bakole to face 23-1 (16 KOs) Cassius Chaney, who stopped Trevor Bryan in seven rounds in his last fight back in November.
Bakole, the Scotland-based Congolese heavyweight, is trained by Billy Nelson and rated No. 1 by the WBA, with Anthony Joshua at two, Joseph Parker at three, Daniel Dubois at four and Frank Sanchez rounding out the top five.
Oleksandr Usyk is the champion, but Kubrat Pulev and Mahmoud Charr meet for the lesser WBA belt on March 30 in Sofia.
“We’ve been trying to negotiate for a while,” said Boxxer promoter Shalom. “We’re in touch with the famous Don King and his team, back and forth, but trying to just come to a deal now. It’s an opportunity Martin has worked hard for and something that he wants to do and he’s made it very clear that’s the route he wants to take. So hopefully we can put that fight on and agree terms extremely soon and get that moving.
“He’s had to be extremely patient. He’s not the easiest fighter, because I think people know how good he is. I think there’s no secret in terms of fighters trying to avoid Martin Bakole.
“It’s been the same his whole career but he’s getting to that stage where he’s No. 1 in the WBA, he’s worked hard for his position. He’s now seeing the fruits of his labor and getting ordered for final eliminators and it’s a matter of time before we get a deal done and can get that fight on.”
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