Martin Bakole refused to face heavy-hitting ‘animal’ after failing to live up to boogeyman reputation in latest fights

Martin Bakole wowed fans with his win over Jared Anderson, but has since struggled to live up to expectations.

Martin Bakole defeated Tony Yoka, an Olympic Gold medallist, in his home country in 2022, catapulting him to the next level of heavyweight boxing.

After a win over Carlos Takam, Bakole demolished Jared Anderson to secure a stoppage victory, issuing a huge statement to the rest of the division.

Since then, Bakole was hailed as a feared boogeyman and one of the most avoided men in boxing, an illusion that was swiftly shattered when Joseph Parker stopped him in two rounds.

In his defense, Bakole had taken the fight on less than 24 hours’ notice, and his bravery saved the co-main event of a stacked card.

In his next performance, though, Bakole showed up overweight yet again, and failed to deliver, drawing with Efe Ajagba.

After two lackluster outings, one heavyweight scolded Bakole for not taking a fight with him.

Martin Bakole turned down fight with ‘El Animal’ Filip Hrgovic

Filip Hrgovic is preparing for what many see as a bizarre match-up, as the Croatian ‘El Animal’ is set to face British title winner, David Adeleye, on the undercard of Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte.

Hrgovic does not rate Adeleye highly, and told IFL TV that he struggled to watch his latest fight as it was so boring. Hrgovic vowed to take Adeleye’s soul ahead of their fight.

‘El Animal’ recently defeated Joe Joyce after accepting the fight on short notice following Whyte’s withdrawal, picking up a unanimous decision after a brutal slugfest.

Now looking to get back to the top of the division, Hrgovic spoke to IFL about the fight he could’ve got next, if Bakole had only been brave enough to take it.

“It was offered me to fight Martin Bakole on that card and I said yes. Martin Bakole said no. Then they offered this guy, Adeleye, and I accepted.”

Hrgovic has previously ripped into Bakole, telling BoxNation, “He’s boogeyman for girls, because he’s ugly and fat, but not for real fighters.”

Bakole was scolded heavily for turning up to face Ajagba, weighing in at 299lbs, just 11lbs lighter than his one-day-notice fight with Parker.

The man once known as an avoided boogeyman must find a fight soon to re-elevate his name after a series of poor performances.

Filip Hrgovic vs Martin Bakole – The stats

Though this fight was turned down by Bakole, and likely won’t happen unless Bakole first gets a good comeback win or Hrgovic is beaten by Adeleye, in the heavyweight division stranger things have happened, and oftentimes fighters will cross paths years after they’re initially expected to.

With Bakole on a recent run of poor form, and Hrgovic seeking to improve upon a mediocre performance against Joe Joyce in his return from a loss to Daniel Dubois, a fight between the pair sometime down the line would make sense.

Both men have been labelled boogeymen prior to their losses, and both men now have something to prove, so it is worth comparing who might have the edge if the pair ever fight.