Bakole and Anderson fought in a huge heavyweight clash at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with the winner looking to throw their name into the world title mix.
British heavyweight Tyson Fury had named Anderson as the ‘heir to his heavyweight throne’ with the American taking on the biggest test of his career since his rise to stardom.
But it was Anderson who fell to an astonishing defeat, as he was dropped three times before the contest was halted in a devastating KO from Bakole in the fifth.
The fight began as the sluggers both looked to establish control of centre ring with Bakole keen to drag his rival into a dog fight.
And that went exactly to plan, as the Congolese power-hitter floored the American with a huge right hand after a neat flurry, which left ‘Big Baby’ on his back.
Anderson was saved by the bell, but it was the first time in his career that he had been down, and he was forced to grit down on the gumshield in the corner.
The second stanza continued at a ferocious pace, with both fighters leaving absolutely nothing to chance with some heavy shots hitting the target particularly of young talent Anderson.
It was a tough start for the prodigy who traded with Bakole in the simply thrilling early stages, with Anderson trying to stay with his rival and he started to get more success with a chopping uppercut in the third.
