Martin Bakole is positioning himself for a significant bout with Anthony Joshua after spending a considerable amount of time on the outskirts of the prestigious division.
Despite facing doubts from some in the boxing community following a defeat to Michael Hunter in 2018, Bakole has not shied away from discussing his sparring experiences, a practice typically kept private in the sport.
While these sparring anecdotes have raised his profile, they have not translated into securing the high-profile fights he craves.
However, there seems to be a shift in the winds, with Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh expressing interest in a potential showdown between Bakole and Joshua in Africa.
Bakole has been vocal about his desire to face AJ and would eagerly embrace the chance to go head-to-head with the British champion.
Before Bakole can set his sights on Joshua, he first needs to contend with Efe Ajagba.
The Nigerian fighter has been mandated to take on Bakole in an IBF final eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger for the sanctioning body’s title.
The current IBF heavyweight champion, Dubois, is set to defend the title against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on February 22.
The victor of that match will eventually face the winner of the Bakole versus Ajagba showdown in the near future.