A clash between top-ten-ranked heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole is reportedly a done deal for early 2025.
Bakole-Ajagba Set
Both guys are big punchers in their early 30s but have been unable to earn title shots thus far. Boxing Scene is reporting that the Ajagba-Bakole fight is a done deal. Bakole, 6’6″, will likely be a huge favorite against Ajagba, but that might not mean much. With Ajagba’s power, he’ll have a puncher’s chance.
#1 WBA, #3 WBC, #3 WBO, #4 Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) will be putting his high ranking at risk against the 2016 Nigerian Olympian Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs). With the #1 ranking with the World Boxing Association, Bakole doesn’t need to take a risk like this to get a title shot. He can just sit back, and he’ll get a shot eventually.
Bakole, 31, has gained a lot of attention recently with his fifth-round knockout win over America’s best heavyweight prospect, Jared Anderson, on August 3rd at a Riyadh Season event at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The win against ‘The Real Big Baby’ Anderson was very impressive for Bakole, as he completely wiped him out.
Ajagba has won his last five fights since losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Cuba’s Frank Sanchez on October 9, 2021. He’s come back from the loss to pick up recent wins over Guido Vianello, Joseph Goodall, Zhan Kossobutskiy, and Stephen Shaw.
