OLEKSANDR USYK is set to spar Martin Bakole as his rematch with Anthony Joshua edges closer.
Bakole, once one of AJ’s main sparring partners, is the same height as the 6ft 6in former world champion.
Oleksandr Usyk is set to spar Martin Bakole before rematching Anthony Joshua
Martin Bakole used to regularly spar Anthony Joshua
And as a result, his trainer Billy Nelson has been approached by Usyk’s team for some help in training camp.
Nelson told Sky Sports: “I was contacted during the week regarding Martin sparring again.
“I knew that was going to happen anyway because they were super happy with him on the first occasion, I think Martin gave them the best sparring he’s had.
“Usyk and his team respect his skill to the extent that one of his team said Martin will become a world champion in the not too distant future.”
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Bakole, 28, first made a name for himself by sparring Joshua, 32, but has since shared rounds with every big name in the division.
That includes Usyk, 34, Tyson Fury, 33, Daniel Dubois, 24, and Joe Joyce, 36.
Bakole most recently dominated 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka, 30, in France, his biggest win to date.
But his next mission could be helping Usyk once again beat his old friend AJ.
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Joshua was dethroned by the Ukrainian last September and the pair are in line to rematch this summer.
But their initial July 23 date could be scrapped as Eddie Hearn admitted the fight could move into August.
He said: “The fight is definitely happening, the 23rd is the date that everyone has agreed on and everyone is fine with. If we agree next week then everything is fine.
“The date of the fight and the time to train are not the problems, it is more about the extra obligations of TV, press conferences and promotion.
“Eight weeks out feels OK but once you get down to seven and six, it’s a problem.
“Both fighters know that if we have to do a media tour then it needs to happen in the next 10-14 days. Beyond that we will have to move it back a week or two.
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“If we go July 23 then we are nine weeks away and we need to announce next week, it has to be next week.
“They will want us to do a media tour, we would have to go to the Middle East and London, maybe even New York, so we really need to announce next week.”
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are set to rematch in the summer
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