Undercard Recap: Bakole Beats Down Big Baby, Steals the Riyadh Season Show

Martin Bakole says he’s a machine, a beast. The Congo native fighting out of Scotland delivered an impressive win in front of shocked Los Angeles fans in his U.S. debut. He was the unlikely breakout star of the Riyadh Season undercard in its first American event in Los Angeles on Saturday at BMO Stadium.

Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) took down Jared Anderson of Toledo, Ohio (17-1, 15 KOs) with surprising ease, knocking down the American three times en route to a fifth-round TKO win.

Martin Bakole ripped into Jared Anderson with heavy hands, scoring three knockdowns for a TKO win. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Anderson, who made some mistakes against Charles Martin, made the same mistakes against Bakole and paid the price. His defense is porous, and Bakole took advantage of it. He dropped Anderson near the end of the first round on a vicious uppercut. Anderson made it to the bell, but never really regained his footing.

Jared Anderson made mistakes with his defense and paid the price. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Anderson summoned what he could to return fire, and tried to buy himself some time. Bakole wasn’t cooperating. He continued to land left hooks and uppercuts nearly at will, with hard body shots for good measure. In the few clinches Anderson could manage, Bakole leaned his considerable weight on the smaller man.

After taking too much punishment, referee Jerry Cantu had seen enough. Martin Bakole wins the NABF, WBO International Heavyweight Title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Halfway through the fifth round, Bakole sent Anderson down and nearly through the ropes on knockdown #2, followed quickly by another from a hook and hard left uppercut, Referee Jerry Cantu gave Anderson one more chance, but when Bakole moved in with combination punching, Anderson’s night was done at 2:07 of the fifth round.

Bakole Wants Revenge Against Hunter

Martin Bakole danced a victory jig in the ring with his team. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Bakole wished his opponent well. He knows what it’s like to suffer your first loss, but he’s come back from it. “I did it. I came here to work. This is my work. This is for my baby, for my people,” said Bakole, vowing he would take over America.

“I want to be a world number one. No one wants to fight me, but with His Excellency (Turki Alalshiehk of the Saudi General Authority), I can get any fight I want,” said Bakole. Bakole would like to avenge his sole loss against Michael Hunter, who briefly came into the ring agreeing to the rematch. But Bakole is also now a WBO mandatory challenger and will await the outcome of the Usyk vs. Fury rematch as well.

Anderson admitted he’d made the same mistakes he’s been making. “You win some, you lose some,” said Anderson with a shrug.  “I thought I had it, I’m not going to lie. You lose, you go back to the gym.” Anderson said he’s still only 24.

Bakole’s promoter Ben Shalom of Boxxer may not want to waste Bakole’s hot hand on Hunterm but rather on Jarrell Miller. “America now knows a new king of the heavyweight division,” said Bakole.

Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller Roll to Disappointing Draw

Andy Ruiz Jr and Jarrell Miller fought to a disappointing draw. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Southern California fans greeted the return of their Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. of Imperial, California (35-3, 22 KOs) with enthusiasm. But after his lackluster effort against Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller of Brooklyn (26-3-1, 22 KOs), they weren't eager to see him return.

Miller and Ruiz Jr. slugged and grappled for 12 rounds, with the lack of activity at times from both not serving them or the fans well. The judges scored it a majority draw, with two even cards and the third 116-112 for Miller.

It did appear Miller had done enough to win, coming on in the second half of the fight with a far greater punch output. But he couldn't seriously hurt Ruiz Jr. Judged strictly by activity, it seemed Miller had the edge.

“It was pretty exhausting man. Three hundred pounds coming toward me, throwing and throwing,” said Ruiz Jr. Miller trimmed down from the mid-300s and was relatively fresh at 305 pounds on the scale.

Andy Ruiz Jr shows his injured hand to Jarrell Miller after their fight. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

After blaming his inactivity, Ruiz Jr. also announced he'd hurt his right hand in the fifth round. “You can see the friggin bone right here. It bothered me a lot,” said Ruiz Jr. The bone bulged nearly out of the top of Ruiz Jr.'s fist. Nevertheless, Ruiz Jr. was simply not busy enough.

A disappointed Miller said, “I know I did enough. I threw more punches. It’s called effective aggression. I had him backing up the entire fight.” Miller blamed being on Ruiz Jr.'s home turf and having local judges who favored him.

“Andy’s my brother, but I know I worked my ass off. I had it in the bag,” said Miller. “I kept the pressure and let my hands go as much as I could.”

Ruiz Jr. replied, “You’re a warrior, but I pushed through so much. My fucking hand, oh my God!”

Miller said, “That’s boxing. You get robbed, man, It aint the first time I’ve been robbed.”

There isn't tremendous enthusiasm for a rematch. It is difficult to see a path for Ruiz Jr. beyond being a gatekeeper. Miller is still a draw and has value in selling a fight. Expect him on a card in the Middle East later in the year.

Morrell On Cruise Control In Decision Win

David Morrell eased into the light heavyweight division with a decision win over Radivoje Kalajdzic. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Cuban star David Morrell of Minneapolis (11-0, 9 KOs) got a spirited fight out of the underrated Radivoje ‘Hot Rod' Kalajdzic of Serbia (29-3, 21 KOs), based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Morell won his first bout in the light heavyweight division by unanimous decision. The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111 for Morrell.

“I feel more strong, the punches are more strong. I feel good, I feel fast,” said Morrell about his first fight at 175 pounds.

Morrell is a vicious, come-forward puncher, unlike the typical Cuban school technicians. He had Kalajdzic in early trouble in the third round and landed hard right hooks and uppercuts around Kalajdic again in the tenth round, but in between Morrell had things on cruise control. Morrell appears so relaxed in the ring he doesn't appear to be making enough of an effort.

Speaking in English, Morrell said, “I tell you before, this guy is a tough guy, good fighter. I think he was going in the third round. But I finish the fight and win, that’s it.” Morrell said he’s willing to fight everyone in the division, but especially David Benavidez. “I want to make clear to everybody I’m the best. Benavidez is the boogeyman, so I’m here.”

Cruz Cuts Down Moran In Seven

Andy Cruz has a fan-friendly style combined with Cuban school skills. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KO) said his goal was to try and stop Antonio Moran of Mexico (30-7-1, 21 KOs) in fewer rounds than Devin Haney did. Cruz ended up stopping Moran after delivering a solid pummeling in the seventh round for a TKO win, his second consecutive stoppage.

Cruz wins minor IBF International and WBA Continental Latin-American titles. Cruz continues to impress fans with his pro style, developing nicely thanks to working with trainer Bozy Ennis and his talented son Jaron “Boots” Ennis in Philadelphia, who was ringside to see his stablemate Cruz. Ennis pressed Cruz in the corner to get more aggressive with Moran and back him up, and Cruz delivered.

Steve Nelson delivered a solid win over Marcos Ramon Vazquez. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

In early action, super middleweight Steve Nelson of Omaha (20-0, 16 KOs) remained undefeated, dropping previously undefeated Marcos Ramon Vazquez of Tijuana, Mexico (20-1-1, 10 KOs) three times before referee Raul Caiz Sr. called it a day. Nelson made an impression with his Tupac-inspired ring outfit. These things matter.

Ziyad Almaayouf hoped to make a big impression in his U.S. debate, but could only manage a draw against Michal Bulik.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Ziyad Almaayouf of Saudi Arabia (5-0-1, 1 KO) fought to a majority draw in his American debut against Michal Bulik of Poland (6-7-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round welterweight bout. Almaayouf started strong, but Bulik came on in the final rounds to even the scorecards 57-57 from two judges, and the odd 59-55 card for Almaayouf on the third.