Bakole Turns Down Vianello Fight for Egypt Card

Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole remains out of the ring after reportedly turning down a planned fight with Guido Vianello for the major May 23 event in Egypt—headlined by “Usyk vs Verkhoeven.”

Vianello revealed that his team had agreed to all terms and even signed the contract, only for Bakole to withdraw at the last moment without explanation.

“We agreed to everything for the fight with Martin Bakole on May 23 in Egypt. I signed the contract. For some reason, he pulled out at the last moment without any explanation—not even an apology from him or his team,” Vianello wrote on social media.

The 34-year-old Bakole has not fought since his draw with Efe Ajagba in May last year. Prior to that, he was considered a serious title contender following an impressive knockout win over Jared Anderson in 2024, but a loss to Joseph Parker in February 2025 and the subsequent draw cooled his momentum.

Meanwhile, Vianello is looking to get back into contention for bigger fights. After losing to Richard Torrez, he bounced back with a knockout win over Alexis Barriere and is now seeking another high-profile opponent.

The Italian even issued a direct challenge to Bakole for a potential summer clash:

“I’m still in the gym. July is a good time to find your courage—unless you’ve retired from boxing,” Vianello said.