Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent? Martin Bakole would knock him out after Tyson Fury performance, believes trainer Billy Nelson
Trainer Billy Nelson believes Martin Bakole poses a greater threat to unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk than Daniel Dubois, who demanded a rematch with the Ukrainian following Saturday’s victory over Tyson Fury
Martin Bakole poses the most dangerous threat to Oleksandr Usyk and would knock out the unified world heavyweight champion, says trainer Billy Nelson.
Usyk retained his WBO, WBA and WBC belts with another masterful performance to beat Tyson Fury via unanimous decision in the pair’s tense rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Bakole (21-1) is meanwhile coming off his biggest statement display yet after flooring Jared Anderson three times on the way to a fifth-round knockout victory back in August.
“I thought Usyk’s performance against Fury wasn’t quite as good or sharp as the first fight. I personally scored the fight a draw, it was very close,” Bakole’s trainer Nelson told Sky Sports.
“Giving either of the fighters four rounds on the scorecards was an injustice to the other boxer. I do believe Martin has got the skills and ability to dethrone Usyk.
“More importantly, I think Usyk and his team think Martin has got the ability to do it. They have shared a ring on quite a few occasions, namely in Ukraine and Dubai.
“The attributes Martin has got is unlike others; he will close the gap down against Usyk very quickly and set traps. I haven’t seen traps being set in his two fights against Tyson.”
Bakole was recently ordered to face Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba in order to determine the mandatory challenger to the IBF heavyweight title, currently held by Daniel Dubois.
Dubois, who knocked out Anthony Joshua in September, interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview in the ring on Saturday night to demand a rematch against the Ukrainian after his ninth-round knockout defeat in August 2023.
Usyk has vowed to take a break in order to spend time with his family after his rematch victory over Fury, but seemingly has zero intention of walking away just yet despite cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights in history.
“You can rest assured that Usyk knows Martin is very dangerous, probably the most dangerous, guy out there,” said Nelson.
“I know Daniel has also said he wants to have the Usyk rematch; I don’t think anybody wants to see that because that was a domination.
“I believe Usyk won every single round against Dubois, even given that low blow, which was a low blow, the referee immediately said it was, so we don’t need to go there. He got beat, he got dropped twice and basically quit at the end of the fight.
“The best challenger out there for Oleksandr Usyk, who is a phenomenal fighter, would be Martin Bakole. I believe, and more importantly, Martin believes, he would knock him out.”
