Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole publicly expressed his frustration with his promoter Ben Shalom, accusing him of trying to block his career and continuing to demand payments that, according to Bakole, he no longer owes.
In a message posted on social media, Bakole stated:
“For everyone asking what’s going on with me. I’m ready to fight anytime, but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he’s doing this. He has been earning money from me for years and kept me tied to a contract. My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him has ended.”
The boxer added that, while he tries to move forward and seek new opportunities, Shalom has been sending emails to various people in the boxing world attempting to prevent him from fighting:
“He sends crazy emails to everyone, blocking me from fighting and earning a living. He’s trying to scare me by saying he will sue anyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I’m ready to fight, but I won’t pay that man another cent.”
Bakole’s frustration is further reinforced by the recent cancellation of his highly anticipated fight against Italian Guido Vianello, who had trained alongside Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker. Vianello posted on Instagram that Bakole withdrew from the bout in Giza, Egypt, without any explanation, despite all terms having been agreed upon and the contract already signed.
Bakole had shown his potential as one of the most feared heavyweights in the division, stopping Carlos Takam and the promising Jared Anderson during Riyadh Season shows. However, a last-minute fight against Joseph Parker, arranged after Daniel Dubois pulled out due to injury, ended in a quick defeat for the towering Congolese, raising questions about his next comeback and choice of opponents.
The reality is that Bakole has now been inactive for over a year since his last fight, while his dispute with Shalom creates uncertainty about when he can return to the ring and under what conditions.
