We analyse the credentials of heavyweights Martin Bakole and Carlos Takam as the pair get set to square off on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

This Saturday’s ‘Battle of the Baddest’ event headlined by Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will feature some really competitive cards on the undercard - none more so than Bakole v Takam.

While the main event will turn the sweet science sour until it’s over and done with, a mix of professional heavyweight boxers will continue their own careers looking to make a name for themselves in front of a worldwide audience.

Moses Itauma, Joseph Parker, Arslanbek Makhmudov are talents in their own right while the British heavyweight title bout between Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye could steal the show. 

Slotted in somewhere in the middle is a potential war of attrition between Martin Bakole and Carlos Takam - two ring gladiators who simplify the sweet science by walloping their opponents until they have nothing left to give. 

But who wins, that is the big question?

Let’s look at the Tale of the Tape...
 

Martin Bakole v Carlos Takam
Tale of the Tape

Martin Bakole
In Profile

Having burst the bubble of Tony Yoka in Paris over a year ago Martin Bakole finally confirmed he is a heavyweight force to be taken seriously.

The Scottish-based Congolese puncher has long been touted by trainer Billy Nelson as the man to disrupt the heavyweight scene and be the cat among the pigeons. 

His bludgeoning of talented amateur Yoka was a win and performance which was needed to back up the consistent chatter.

Inactivity continues to act as a disruption of its own in Bakole’s career. Three fights in nearly three years aren’t enough for the industry to bang the drum for the African Prince. 

Beating Carlos Takam on Saturday night is expected, but it will come down to the manner of how the victory is accomplished. 

Bakole must go out and put the heavyweight warhorse out to pasture with the level of explosive violence that Tony Yoka could not deal with. 

At present, Bakole is a nightmare still to enter the minds of the leading men at heavyweight. 

While the Yoka win was impressive Bakole is equally known as the man who gave a good account of himself sparring Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua. 

Those stories now need to be stored away for the memoirs. 

It’s time for Martin Bakole to consistently prove himself against opposition that will prove he is the real deal or simply another contender who’s team talked a good game.

Carlos Takam
In Profile

Beating Tony Yoka 10 months after Martin Bakole pumped life back into the career of Carlos Takam.

Previous losses to Joe Joyce and Arslanbek Makhmudov may have been expected but with Takam the wrong side of 40 father time was nearing. 

Takam has been a valued solider of the heavyweight ranks and never makes it easy for the opposite corner.

Still in terrific condition and with the ambition to take on the best we can be assured that Takam will give it his all against Bakole.

The story of the fight will be revealed as soon as Bakole’s thudding shots begin to land. 

Takam will stand with his opponent and look to slug it out but that may be the catalyst for Bakole to put his foot down and force Takam backwards.

In a fight such as this Takam is the underdog for good reason, but it isn’t often he is completely written off.

All odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
 

Shaun Brown

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