It was a night of grit and fireworks as Nigerian heavyweight Efe Ajagba and Congolese contender Martin Bakole battled to a tense majority draw in their highly anticipated clash held early Sunday at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The heavyweight contest, which formed part of the undercard for Canelo Álvarez’s bout against William Scull, went the full 10 rounds, with all three judges returning close scores—95-95, 94-96, and 95-95. One judge gave the edge to Ajagba, while the other two called it even, resulting in a verdict that left fans and pundits divided.
Bakole, who came into the fight seeking redemption after suffering a devastating second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker earlier this year, had been tipped by several analysts as the slight favourite. However, Ajagba, widely known for his explosive power and resilience, showed he was far from a pushover, standing toe-to-toe with the Congolese fighter in what turned out to be a hard-fought duel.
The 30-year-old Nigerian entered the ring with a professional record of 20 wins, 14 of them by knockout, and just one loss—a defeat to Frank Sánchez in October 2021. His last five fights had ended in victories, including an impressive showing against Guido Vianello in April 2023, which further reinforced his reputation as one of Africa’s top heavyweight prospects.
Speaking before the fight, Ajagba told Sky Sports, “I have the abilities, I have the skills, I have the power—everything to become a heavyweight champion,” making it clear he has his sights set on the division’s summit.
Despite bookmakers placing the odds in favour of Bakole—1.27 (-400) compared to Ajagba’s 3.30 (+330)—the Nigerian proved once again that odds don’t fight in the ring. His performance demonstrated not just power but composure, refusing to be overwhelmed by Bakole’s physicality or experience.
Both fighters had hoped the outcome would position them more favourably in the race for a world title shot. The heavyweight division is currently dominated by unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois, and this draw leaves both Ajagba and Bakole still on the periphery of the title conversation, with plenty of work ahead.
While the bout did not produce a definitive winner, it did confirm that both boxers remain serious contenders in the heavyweight division. However, the draw result also means that neither was able to seize the moment decisively to edge closer to a championship opportunity.
For now, the chapter remains open. The paths of Ajagba and Bakole may well cross again if a rematch is ordered or mutually agreed upon. What is certain is that both men walked away with their reputations intact, even if their ambitions must wait a little longer.
