Duel Between Heavyweights: Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole Ends in a Tie-breaker
Heavyweight Fight Between Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole Concludes as a Stalemate
The pitched battle between Nigerian powerhouse, Efe Ajagba, and his rival Martin Bakole from the Congo played out in Riyadh's ANB Arena on Sunday, May 4th. The duel, comprising ten fierce rounds, resulted in a standoff with the scorecards showing 95-95, 94-96, and 95-95. This tight call suggests a nail-biting contest where a slight nod went to Ajagba from one judge, whereas the remaining duo saw it as an even affair.
Although many boxing pundits fancied Bakole as the potential winner, the outcome caught fans and analysts off guard.
This bout formed part of the supporting act for Canelo Álvarez's clash with William Scull, carrying considerable weight for both contenders as they forged ahead in their careers.
For Bakole, it marked a shot at redemption, following his disheartening second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker earlier in the year. In contrast, Ajagba aimed to prolong his impressive streak of five triumphs since his solitary professional defeat to Frank Sánchez in October 2021. Ajagba, boasting a record of 20 victories (14 by KO) and a single loss, exuded self-assurance as he set foot in the ring.
"I've got the abilities, the skills, the power, everything to become a heavyweight champion," proclaimed Ajagba in an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the fight.
Despite odds favoring Bakole at 1.27 (-400) compared to 3.30 (+330) for Ajagba, the Nigerian heavyweight demonstrated unwavering tenacity during the encounter that ended in a tie.
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- The unexpected tie between Efe Ajagba, a Nigerian boxer, and Martin Bakole in their duel held in Riyadh's ANB Arena on May 4th, has sparked conversations among boxing enthusiasts.
- Efe Ajagba, also known as 'Naija' in the boxing circle, aiming for world dominance, had a record-breaking streak before this tie, with 20 victories (14 by KO) and a single loss.
- Despite predictions favoring Martin Bakole in their encounter, Efe Ajagba demonstrated his powerful fighting skills, proving his self-proclaimed abilities as a potential heavyweight champion.
- The tie-breaker has added another intriguing contest to the list of highly anticipated boxing matches, such as the Usyk vs Dubois rematch, Joseph Parker's yearning for a battle with Anthony Joshua, and Jarrell Miller's eternal quest to face Joshua.
