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Joe Joyce And Martin Bakole Clash Over Leaked Sparring Footage

Written by Kristan Caryl on 15th March 2024.

Joe Joyce and Martin Bakole

Heavyweight contenders Martin Bakole and Joe Joyce have entered a war of words over leaked sparring footage.

Bakole was last out on the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou card in October when he beat Carlos Takam by knockout and is now back to chasing big fights.

He has maybe decided to try and goad Joyce into a fight because it was Bakole who has broken the unwritten rule of boxing which is what happens in sparring, stays in sparring, when he leaked a video showing him and Joyce going at it in a private gym.

He posted the video on X along with a message.

“This is the reason why UK 🇬🇧 heavyweight they’re avoiding me guys 😡👊👇”

It was Joyce’s former manager Sam Jones who responded first. In his message on X, he claimed there was more to the same video that Bakole was letting on.

“Post the end bit where you got out the ring mid spar being sick and left the gym. If you are going to post sparring post it all”

Jones then found the very moment that shows Bakole on the canvas with his head in a bucket and posted it along with another message.

“Next time don’t be a Jackanory posting sparring highlights @MartinBakole01. Sick in a bucket from accumulation of body shots. Now give @MichaelHunterII his bounty collection”

A fight between Joyce, who is next out this weekend in a comeback against Kash Ali as he rebuilds after back-to-back losses to Zhile Zhang, and Bakole would represent a good match-up for both men at this stage in their careers.