Efe Ajagba eyes heavyweight glory ahead of clash with Martin Bakole

• Ajagba and Bakole will go head-to-head on May 4 on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s world title fight.
• The 30-year-old wants to earn a title shot against Oleksandr Usyk or Daniel Dubois but insists his focus remains on Bakole first.
• With the fight now part of a high-profile event in Saudi Arabia, Ajagba has a golden opportunity to prove he belongs among the heavyweight elite.

Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba is brimming with confidence as he prepares for a crucial showdown against Congolese fighter Martin Bakole, a fight that could propel him closer to a world title shot. 

Set to take place on May 4 in Saudi Arabia as part of the undercard for Canelo Alvarez’s undisputed world super-middleweight championship bout, Ajagba sees this as a golden opportunity to make a statement in the heavyweight division.

The hard-hitting 30-year-old, known for his devastating knockout power, has made it clear that he believes he has all the tools necessary to reach the pinnacle of the sport. 

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, he expressed his self-belief, stating, 

“I have the abilities, I have the skills, I have the power, everything to become a heavyweight champion,” he said.

Ajagba’s ultimate goal is a shot at the world title, with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois in his sights. However, he remains focused on the immediate challenge ahead, 

“I’m not overstepping. I’m just focused on Martin Bakole first, after that, when I get the victory, that’s when I’m going to step up to fight who I want to fight next. Whether it’s Usyk or Dubois,” he continued.

Bakole, despite suffering a brutal second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker in his last outing, remains a formidable opponent. The Congolese fighter has victories over highly regarded opponents such as Jared Anderson, Tony Yoka, and Carlos Takam. 

Ajagba has dismissed any notion that Bakole’s confidence has been dented by his recent defeat and insists he is preparing for his opponent at his best,

“To me, in my opinion, I don’t think so, I’m not going to take that knockout that he has (against Parker) to myself. I’m going to have more confidence to fight Martin Bakole. I’m preparing for (the best of) him,” Ajagba said when asked if Parker’s knockout of Bakole would have an impact.

Since suffering his only professional loss to Frank Sanchez in 2021, Ajagba has been on a five-fight winning streak, bringing his record to an impressive 20-1 with 14 knockouts. He has been intensifying his training, recently sparring with British heavyweight Johnny Fisher, as he fine-tunes his strategy for the fight.

Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua has backed both fighters, acknowledging Bakole’s strength while also supporting Ajagba to secure the win.

The bout, initially scheduled for New York, now adds to an already electrifying night of boxing in Saudi Arabia, where Ajagba hopes to prove he is ready for the biggest names in the heavyweight division.

Dubois stuns Joshua in a dramatic Wembley knockout

Previously, TheRadar reported that in an electrifying night at Wembley Stadium, Daniel Dubois shattered the expectations of boxing fans by delivering a stunning upset, taking down Anthony Joshua in a gripping five-round bout. 

The atmosphere was nothing short of electric as the reigning IBF heavyweight champion dismantled the former two-time world heavyweight champion before a crowd of 96,000 fans.