Congolese heavyweight boxer Martin Bakole has thrown down a daring challenge to Anthony Joshua, promising to knock out the British-Nigerian fighter — even if the bout happens right in front of Joshua’s home crowd in Nigeria.
Bakole, who once sparred with Joshua, made the bold statement during an interview with Sky Sports, saying he’s ready to headline what he calls a modern-day “Rumble in the Jungle II.”
“I’d fight Anthony Joshua without thinking twice. We’re both African, and it’s time to bring world-class boxing back to the continent,” Bakole said. “He knows what happened during sparring. If we meet in the ring, I’ll knock him out — no question about it.”
The 30-year-old boxer expressed his desire to recreate the legendary 1974 Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, which took place in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
“I’ll even knock him out in Nigeria, in front of his people. That’s the fight the world wants to see — and it has to happen in Africa,” he declared confidently.
Reports suggest that Joshua, a two-time world heavyweight champion, is being lined up for a comeback fight in Nigeria early next year. This comes after his September 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois in a world title clash at Wembley Stadium.
Promoters are already scouting for venues and opponents, with Bakole emerging as one of the top contenders for what could become one of Africa’s biggest-ever boxing events.
Nigeria Tops the List of Potential Venues
Event promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, who recently co-hosted the Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos with former world champion Amir Khan, confirmed that Bakole is among those being considered for Joshua’s return match.
“Bakole is definitely on the list,” Adamu told Sky Sports News. “We have several exciting options, but this one would bring the kind of energy and global attention that Africa deserves — especially Nigeria.”
He added that Nigeria’s huge population and economic strength make it the perfect host for a fight of this scale.
“With over 250 million people and a deep passion for boxing, Nigeria is the ideal destination. The energy here is unmatched,” he said.
Although Ghana was initially considered, recent updates indicate that Nigeria has now become the frontrunner to host the highly anticipated fight.
If confirmed, the showdown — likely to be branded The Rumble in the Jungle II — would mark Joshua’s first-ever professional fight on African soil, a symbolic homecoming for the heavyweight star who has always proudly embraced his Nigerian heritage.
