Ajagba steps up training ahead of Bakole bout
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has intensified his preparation ahead of his much-anticipated showdown with Martin Bakole slated for May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
The 30-year-old Nigerian was spotted on Saturday training with British heavyweight Johnny Fisher, nicknamed ‘The Romford Bull’, as he fine-tunes his strategy for the crucial bout that could significantly impact his standing in the heavyweight division.
Fisher, 26, who hails from Romford in the London Borough of Havering, England, brings valuable sparring experience to Ajagba’s camp. The British boxer’s background in rugby is believed to have provided him with the physical conditioning that complements his boxing career.
The highly anticipated heavyweight clash, originally scheduled to take place in New York, will now feature on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s super middleweight championship match against William Scull in Saudi Arabia.
Ajagba, who holds an impressive record of 20-1 with 14 knockouts, has been vocal about his readiness for the fight.
“It’s official, I’m ready to rumble. UghelliBoy, (it) is my time to shine. The Silent Roller can’t wait,” the Nigerian boxer wrote on his Instagram page on Monday, sharing the official fight card poster for the ‘FATAL FURY’ fight night.
He also thanked the organiser of the Riyadh Season event series, Turki Al al-Sheikh, writing, “Thank you for the opportunity, @turkialalshik.”
Bakole, who boasts a record of 21-2 with 16 knockouts, will be looking to bounce back from his recent setback – a second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker in February, where the Congolese fighter stepped in as a late replacement for an ill Daniel Dubois.
Despite this defeat, Bakole remains ranked in the top five by multiple heavyweight boxing authorities and quickly accepted the opportunity to face Nigeria’s Ajagba.
Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua has backed Bakole to recover from his recent loss, stating, “Bakole believes in himself and he’s got every right to. He’s a serious fighter. That’s not the end, this is the heavyweight division.”
However, Joshua has also thrown his support behind his compatriot Ajagba to win the fight. The Nigerian fighter, nicknamed ‘The Silent Roller’, had previously taunted Bakole on Instagram, promising to “woop your as* the Naija way”.
Ajagba, who has won his last five fights since his lone professional defeat, sees the May 3 bout as a golden opportunity to make a significant statement in the competitive heavyweight division, with both boxers known for their knockout power.
