Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has confidently asserted that he possesses all the necessary attributes to claim a world championship as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Martin Bakole on May 4 in Saudi Arabia.
“I have the abilities, I have the skills, I have the power, everything to become a heavyweight champion,” the 30-year-old Nigerian told reporters in a recent interview ahead of the high-profile bout that will feature on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s super-middleweight championship defense against William Scull.
Ajagba, who boasts an impressive professional record of 20-1 with 14 knockouts, has been riding a wave of success with five consecutive victories since his only career defeat to Frank Sanchez in October 2021. The hard-hitting Nigerian has been intensifying his preparation, recently spotted training with British heavyweight Johnny Fisher, known as ‘The Romford Bull.’
While making his championship ambitions clear, Ajagba remains focused on the immediate challenge. “I’m not overstepping. I’m just focused on Martin Bakole first,” he explained. “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.”
His Congolese opponent, Bakole, is coming off a second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker after stepping in as a last-minute replacement when Daniel Dubois withdrew due to illness. Despite this setback, Ajagba refuses to underestimate Bakole, who has notable victories over fighters like Jared Anderson, Tony Yoka, and Carlos Takam.
“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 stated, demonstrating his professional approach to the contest.
The bout has attracted attention from prominent figures in boxing, including former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua, who has backed Bakole to bounce back from his recent defeat while also expressing support for fellow Nigerian Ajagba to emerge victorious
Originally scheduled to take place in New York, the heavyweight clash will now be part of the star-studded card in Saudi Arabia, giving Ajagba a significant platform to showcase his talents and potentially advance his standing in the heavyweight division as he pursues his ultimate goal of challenging unified champion Oleksandr Usyk or IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois.
