Ajagba excited for Bakole showdown
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has expressed excitement ahead of his much-anticipated showdown with Martin Bakole scheduled for May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It’s official, I’m ready to rumble. UghelliBoy, (it) is my time to shine. The Silent Roller can’t wait,” Ajagba wrote in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, uploading the official fight card poster for the ‘FATAL FURY’ fight night.
The heavyweight clash was originally scheduled to take place in New York but has been rescheduled for the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s super middleweight championship match against William Scull.
The rescheduling comes in the wake of Bakole’s recent knockout loss to Joseph Parker in February, where the Congolese fighter was defeated in the second round after stepping in as a late replacement for an ill Daniel Dubois.
Despite the setback, Bakole has quickly accepted the opportunity to face Nigeria’s Ajagba, maintaining his position as a top-five heavyweight in multiple rankings.
The 30-year-old also thanked the organiser of the Riyadh Season event series, Turki Al al-Sheikh writing, “Thank you for the opportunity, @turkialalshik.”
Ajagba reposted the update on his Instagram story and added; “Let’s go.” with a pair of boxing gloves emoji.
Bakole, who stands at 21-2 with 16 knockouts, will be looking to bounce back from his recent defeat, while Ajagba brings a record of 20-1 with 14 knockouts to the ring.
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 also threw his support behind his compatriot Ajagba to win the fight. Nicknamed ‘The Silent Roller’, Ajagba had previously taunted Bakole on Instagram, promising to “woop your as* the Naija way”.
The May 3 fight represents a crucial opportunity for both fighters to make a statement in the competitive heavyweight division, with both boxers known for their knockout power.
