Latest news with #EfeAjagba
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bakole's Sparring Tales: Hype or heavyweight truth ahead of vital fight on Canelo card?
Martin Bakole is hoping to bounce back after a second-round knockout loss to Joseph Parker last year – he takes on Efe Ajagba on the Canelo vs Scull undercard in Riyadh tomorrow, Saturday, May 3. The Congolese man possess immense power in both hands and claims to be the most-avoided heavyweight in the world because he has sparred with, and given a hard time to, the biggest names in the heavyweight division. Regaling stories of broken noses, wobbly legs and body shots, Bakole is either a great salesman or a genuine heavyweight threat. Which heavyweights does Bakole claim to have smashed in sparring? Joe Joyce The only claim of Bakole's with any evidence to back it up is that he and Joe Joyce went toe-to-toe in sparring. The video, posted to X in March, last year garnered a lot of attention in the boxing community. The clip shows he and Joyce exchanging single shots before Bakole unloads with a three-shot combination that knocks Joyce's headguard off. The post was captioned: 'This is the reason why UK heavyweights are avoiding me guys.' Bakole may not have been telling the whole story, however, as 'The Juggernaut' and his team responded with a video from what seems to be a different sparring session as Bakole is wearing different attire. It shows Bakole on his knees in the ring, looking like he was about to throw up into a bucket. Joyce's team claimed this was from an accumulation of body shots – Bakole refuted this, claiming he had eaten eggs on the way to sparring that had not agreed with him. Daniel Dubois Throughout 2024, Bakole seemed unable to go the length of an interview without mentioning or being asked about sparring with Daniel Dubois. Revealing what happens behind closed doors is usually not the done thing but Bakole was using it to get himself closer to a fight with the IBF champion. He told iFL TV: 'I broke his nose twice and stopped him. That is not a lie because, he would never come say that I am lying,' These claims have never been confirmed, nor have they been addressed by Dubois, but Bakole does admit that he uses these sparring stories to sell himself. "People are telling me not to talk about sparring,' he told talkSport. 'But people forget I'm from Africa and it's very hard for me to sell tickets, so I need to sell myself." Oleksandr Usyk Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is another of the names that the heavy hitter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed to have roughed up in sparring. "Even Usyk, I don't think he'd say yes (to fighting me)," Bakole said on Sky Sports, 'because I stopped him in Dubai in sparring. He knows how good I am. I don't know if he'll say yes again to fight me as well. I am telling the truth." The Usyk camp responded to this and although they gave credit to Bakole as one of the best sparring partners Usyk has had, they insisted that it was their man who nearly stopped the Congolese slugger. Anthony Joshua AJ sparred with Bakole in Sheffield whilst still under the tutelage of Rob McCracken. Bakole claims that he was one of seven guys to spar Joshua on the first day. Once the second day rolled around it was only him and Agit Kabayel left in the gym. He sparred six rounds with the former unified heavyweight champion. "The first round went nice," Bakole told talkSport."But AJ tried to knock me out but I was like, 'What the hell?'" So my coach said 'show him', and I caught him with a beautiful left hand. It shook his head and shook his legs. Everyone went quiet in the gym, I used the left hook yeah and people saw it." Bakole has made bold claims outside the ring — now he must deliver inside it. A convincing performance against Ajagba this weekend would be the first step toward proving he belongs among the heavyweight elite.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bakole-Ajagba: Will either fighter join the ranks of great gatekeepers in the heavyweight division?
You never know how well a fighter will deal with a proper punch until they hear the bell for the first time. Likewise, you never know how far they can go until they have been properly tested. Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba go head-to-head on the undercard of Canelo-Scull this Saturday, May 3, with both fighters in top-10 contention in the IBF's rankings. While a win would further either boxer's career, a loss could spell an end to their hopes of becoming world champions. As we have seen over the years, boxers unable to win a world title often take up a role of gatekeeper and up becoming a testing ground for other fighters. With the prospect of another being formed this weekend, we have taken a look at some of the most notable gatekeepers over the years in the heavyweight division. Derek Chisora (36-13) Some gatekeepers are tasked with testing prospects and newcomers to a division; others separate the contenders from the pretenders. For the best part of the 2010s, Chisora served as a litmus test for potential heavyweight contenders. Tyson Fury, David Haye, Joseph Parker, Oleksandr Usyk, and Vitali Klitschko are all world champions that have defeated Derek Chisora. Meanwhile, none of the 34 different foes Chisora has vanquished have gone on to earn a title at world level. Even into his 40s, Chisora is filtering out potential champions with his gruelling battling style and high-pressure approach. Mariusz Wach (38-12) Gatekeepers do not enter the sport with hopes of becoming a barometer for other fighters' success. Pole Mariusz Wach had 27 wins in the first seven years of his career, setting up a shot at Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles. Wach took Klitschko the full distance, but there was little arguing with the Ukrainian's unanimous decision victory. Whilst there were attempts to bounce back, Wach found himself stopped by Alexander Povetkin in 2015, shutting down his chances of contending for world honours. There are some notable names out of Wach's 12 losses. Jarrell Miller, Martin Bakole, and Dillian Whyte defeated the Pole towards the end of the last decade, whilst rising British prospects Frazer Clarke and Moses Itauma have been victorious over Wach in the past two years. After harbouring his own ambitions of becoming a world champion, Wach has seen himself become a checkpoint separating hopefuls from contenders in the heavyweight division. George Chuvalo (73-18-2) The notion of a gatekeeper has long existed in the sport of boxing. Canadian legend George Chuvalo shared a ring with many of boxing's most famous names during the 1960s and 1970s. He was twice defeated by Muhammad Ali, whilst George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Floyd Paterson all had to get through the Toronto-born man. A top 10 contender in his own right for many years of his career, Chuvalo would never become world champion – a fate he also denied for other boxers. Contenders such as Jerry Quarry and Doug Jones failed to come through Chuvalo. Kevin Johnson (36-22-2) In a 20-year-long career, Kevin Johnson contested 60 bouts, one of which was for a world title. Just like fellow gatekeepers Derek Chisora and Mariusz Wach, Johnson was given a shot at a Klitschko brother after a lengthy unbeaten start to his career. Vitali Klitschko sent Johnson packing in 2009, defending his WBC title, and whilst Johnson would share the ring with some big names, he would never fight for a strap at the global level again. Coincidentally, Johnson fought both Chisora and Wach – losing to both fighters. Nowadays, the Russian resident Johnson can sometimes be seen on cards in Eastern Europe, Germany, and Russia, losing on points to up-and-coming fighters. Losses to Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker, Andy Ruiz, Daniel Dubois, Martin Bakole, Filip Hrgovic, and Kubrat Pulev highlight that whilst Johnson was outclassed by future world champions, he also could be bypassed by title hopefuls that would prove to fall short of securing the biggest belts. Dorian Darch (12-12-1) Before a boxer can even think about world title fights, they have to get a few wins under their belts. Facing journeymen with losing records early on in a prospect's career is a common occurrence; but at some point the training wheels have to come off. Dorian Darch was Britain's choice to test heavyweights coming through the ranks; Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Hughie Fury, and Dave Allen have all defeated the Welshman. Whilst beating Darch is no indication that a fighter will go on to compete at the top of the heavyweight division, it does serve as a milestone for prospects to pass on their evolution to contenders. Watch Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez's historic night in Riyadh against William Scull exclusively on DAZN PPV. The PPV cost is $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; $24.99 ROW. Check price in your country here. Watch on any device via the DAZN app, including Smart TV's, smartphones, tablets; streaming devices, games consoles and any device with a web browser.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba LIVE RESULTS: Card on NOW – fight time and updates as pair meet in huge heavyweight clash
MARTIN BAKOLE and Efe Ajagba go head-to-head in a huge heavyweight bout TODAY! The pair meet on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs William Skull as the Mexican defends his WBA, WBC and WBO super-middleweight titles in Saudi Arabia. Bakole returns for the first time since he faced Joseph Parker on two days' notice back in February. Parker brutally knocked out the Congolese boxer in the second round, and now, less than three months later, he returns looking to get back to winning ways and become a serious heavyweight contender once again. 4 minutes ago By Kieran Davies Bakole looking to bounce back The Congolese contender was stopped brutally in round two by Joseph Parker in February—a fight he took on just 48 hours' notice. Despite the setback, Bakole retains his promoter's confidence. He knew what defeat to Parker would mean to his career but he is hoping with an impressive victory tonight, he can wipe that fight from the boxing world's memory. 6 minutes ago By Kieran Davies Welcome to Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba This one is being hyped as the 'Battle for Africa'. These two heavyweights should provide a heavy-hitting show of pure power and pain. Though it no longer serves as an IBF final eliminator due to Bakole's recent loss, this fight remains a pivotal clash between two top-15 contenders whose future relevance in the heavyweight elite depends on the outcome. A victory for either man won't guarantee a title shot, but it will open the door to fights against the likes of Kubrat Pulev, Michael Hunter, or another top 10 contender. For Bakole, this is less about opportunity and more about survival.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba tips: Odds, undercard, and more
MARTIN Bakole returns to Saudi Arabia this weekend, looking to bounce back after his defeat to Joseph Parker last time. Bakole rather comically stepped in with 36 hours' notice to take on Parker after Dubois pulled out, and was quickly punished by the New Zealander for his lack of prep. The Congolese will look to regain his standing this weekend when he meets Efe Ajagba, a man once seen to be a rising star in the division, in a final eliminator to determine the next number 1 contender. Let's look at how the bookies expect this one to play out in this Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba odds and betting guide. Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba odds Bakole vs Ajagba fight outcome odds The following are the best odds available for the potential finishes of Saturday's fight: Martin Bakole by KO, TKO or DQ - 4/6 William Scull by KO, TKO or DQ - 15/2 Martin Bakole by Decision or Technical Decision - 3/1 William Scull by Decision or Technical Decision - 13/2 Draw or Technical Draw - 16/1 Odds are provided by bet365 and are subject to change. Martin Bakole's form and latest fights Martin Bakole will be looking for some redemption after being schooled by Joseph Parker during his last trip to Saudi Arabia. In Bakole's defence, he took the fight as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Dubois and was far from fighting fit when he stepped into the ring. Before that defeat, Bakole was on a roll, scoring impressive stoppage victories against Jared Anderson and Carlos Takam. He will look to get back on track on Saturday and add another win to his 16-2-0 record. Stats: Efe Ajagba's form and latest fights The bookies have Efe Ajagba out at 7/2, but the Nigerian-born fighter is not to be underestimated. He comes into the fight with a 20-1-0 record, with his solitary defeat being a decision loss to Frank Sanchez in 2021. The Silent Roller has an explosive right hook, but he has been a little trigger-shy in recent years, with just one of his fights since his defeat to Sanchez ending by stoppage. He was once hailed as a rising star, with 13 of his 15 fights ending by stoppage, but the defeat appears to have knocked his confidence, and he has not let his hands fly in quite the same way since. Saturday is a major opportunity for him to prove he deserves to hang with the big boys. Stats: Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba betting tips Martin Bakole is the clear favourite among most top UK bookmakers on Saturday night. As such, if you want value in this fight, you need to look at the alternative markets. We've selected these three tips as our best bets for Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba on Saturday night. Tip #1 - Martin Bakole to Win by KO/TKO/DQ Martin Bakole will be looking to make a statement on Saturday. His last performance in Riyadh saw Joseph Parker bring his ten-fight unbeaten run to a shattering halt inside two rounds. Bakole stepped into the fight at the last minute, though, and he will be keen to show that it was not a reflection of his current form. He will look to secure the stoppage victory over a tough Ajagba and move on to face Dubois or Usyk. We believe there is value in backing him to win via KO/TKO/DQ at 4/6 with bet65. Tip #2 - Total rounds under 7.5 at evens Saturday's fight will see two of the heavyweight division's biggest hitters step into the ring together, and it is a battle with stoppage written all over it. Bakole has won 16 of his 21 wins by knockout, with only two of his last ten fights going over five rounds. He will want to get back to this kind of form on Saturday night and will want an early knockout. While there is a very good chance it ends sooner, at evens, I believe there is excellent value in betting on the fight to last under 7.5 rounds at evens with bet365. Tip #3 - Fight to go the Distance As we've already discussed, Baloke will be looking to make a statement on Saturday night and will want to ensure he defeats his opponent emphatically. The Congolese star has not seen a fight go the distance since 2020, and I don't suspect that run will end at the weekend. Bakole and Ajagba have some serious knockout power, and this is not likely to be a heavyweight showdown that goes the distance. You can back the fight not to go the distance at 4/9 with Betfred. 📺 How to watch Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba will be live on DAZN PPV for UK residents. You can purchase the show for £21.99 or pay £34.99 for both this and the Time Squares boxing event taking place on Friday night. Location: ANB Arena in Riyadh Date and time: May 3rd 2025 How to watch: DAZN PPV Other fights on the card Saturday's show will be headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull, a match in which Canelo attempts to get all of the super middleweight gold back around his waist. Elsewhere on the card, Badou Jack puts his WBC cruiserweight title on the line when he steps in the ring against Norair Mikaeljan, while Jaime Mungui will be out for revenge against Bruno Surace in what promises to be one of the night's most exciting encounters.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba: Start time, TV channel, undercard, stream as infamous replacement returns back to ring
MARTIN BAKOLE's heroics back in February didn't go without appreciation as he enters back into the ring THIS WEEKEND. The Congolese heavyweight, who currently resides in Scotland, was the last-minute replacement for an ill Daniel Dubois - who was scheduled to fight Joseph Parker. 2 Bakole's commendable effort wasn't lost on the public, and crucially the sport's chiefs, despite being stopped in the second-round comprehensively. The 33-year-old orthodox has been rewarded with another shot in Riyadh. Though, his upcoming dust-up with Efe Ajagba – scheduled as an IBF final eliminator before his defeat to Parker – won't have the title incentive with it, it's a match-up that promises to entertain given both fighter's ambition. Both Bakole and Ajagba manifest title aspirations, or at the very least, to be in the position to challenge for the sport's biggest honours and have made that clear in the build-up. SunSport provides information on everything worth knowing ahead of the big night. When is Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba? Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba takes place on Saturday, May 3. The fight is part of the Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull undercard. Ring-walk times are yet to be announced, so is the actual time of the fight. The card dubbed the Fatal Fury: City of Wolves will be hosted at ANB Arena. What TV channel is Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba on and can it be live streamed? Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba will be available to watch on DAZN PPV. There are three options for a DAZN subscription, annual - either paying a one-off fee or monthly - flexible, and a monthly option. An annual pass can be purchased for £119.99 in the United Kingdom. That's just £2.30 per week or 65p per fight (based on 185 fight nights per year). A monthly flexible pass is priced at £24.99 per month, which can be cancelled at any time. A subscription allows you to watch every live event and all on-demand programming on DAZN A DAZN subscription costs: Annual Super Saver: $224.99 / £119.99 annually Monthly Saver (12-month deal): £14.99 per month Monthly Flexible pass (cancel any time): £24.99 per month DAZN are also offering a special 'Knockout Weekend Bundle' option for the Garcia vs Romero and Canelo vs Scull fights. The cost to have both PPV events is $90 in the US and £34.99 in the UK. The fights will be aired on DAZN TV channels or can be live streamed through its website to paying customers. What is the rest of the Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba card? Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull; Super middleweight Bruno Surace vs Jaime Munguia; Super middleweight Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba; Heavyweight Badou Jack vs Ryan Rozicki; Cruiserweight, for the WBC title Marco Verde vs Michel Polina; Middleweight Brayan Leon vs Aaron Guerrero; Middleweight What has been said? As mentioned, both fighters wholeheartedly believe in their chance to reach the sport's summit and have made that known this week. Ajagba said: "I'm not overstepping. I'm just focused on Martin Bakole first," Ajagba told Sky Sports. "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. "I have the abilities, I have the skills, I have the power, everything to become a heavyweight champion." Ben Shalom, Bakole's promoter, told Boxing News: '[Bakole] got offered a huge money fight against Joseph Parker, and we knew the ramifications of taking that fight. 'We still made sure that the Ajagba fight was on the same date, and that's all we could do. 'Ultimately, he'll need a couple of wins before he gets himself back into that position with the IBF, but [I believe] he'll be fighting for a world title very soon.
