Boxxer head Ben Shalom, who promotes heavyweight contender Martin Bakole, believes the WBA could order a final eliminator with former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
Bakole is the number one rated fighter under the WBA, with Joshua sitting in the number two position. Should the order come down, and Joshua takes a pass, the number three contender is Daniel Dubois.
Joshua is already slated to return to the ring in early March in Saudi Arabia, in a huge crossover fight against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
The current WBA champion is Oleksandr Usyk, who faces Tyson Fury on February 17 in a high-stakes undisputed showdown.
“The WBA may order a final eliminator and we are waiting on direction from them,” Shalom told Sky Sports.
“The aim for Martin is to fight early in the year and continue his impressive run. I’m looking forward to seeing him fully fit, when he will look even more devastating. Of course Anthony Joshua is No 2 [in the WBA rankings] and so it would make sense that the fight would be ordered – and Martin would be ready.
“Martin remains the most avoided heavyweight in the world and his recent performances have only added to that. We’re looking forward to a big year for Martin, who will inevitably fight for world titles in the not-so-distant future.”
Bakole is very familiar with Joshua from their sparring wars in the gym. Joshua had often used Bakole as a sparring partner in training camp.
“I learned how to stop him,” Bakole told Sky Sports last year.
“Inside he doesn’t want to be put under pressure. Joshua, I’m going to put him under pressure and he’ll give up. He doesn’t know how to fight on the inside. So give him pressure on the inside until he gives up.”