Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba is gearing up for a high-stakes clash against Martin Bakole on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout will take place on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s super middleweight title defence against William Scull at the much-anticipated ‘FATAL FURY’ fight night event.
Efe Ajagba, known as ‘The Silent Roller,’ took to Instagram to confirm his enthusiasm for the fight, writing: “It’s official, I’m ready to rumble. UghelliBoy, (it) is my time to shine. The Silent Roller can’t wait.”
Originally scheduled for New York, the fight was moved to Saudi Arabia following Bakole’s knockout loss to Joseph Parker in February. Parker stopped Bakole in the second round, stepping in as a late replacement after Daniel Dubois withdrew due to illness.
Despite his recent defeat, Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) remains a top-five ranked heavyweight and quickly accepted the challenge against Ajagba. The 30-year-old also expressed gratitude to Turki Al al-Sheikh, the organiser of the Riyadh Season fight series: “Thank you for the opportunity, @turkialalshik.”
Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) sees this as a golden opportunity to make a statement in the heavyweight division. In a fiery pre-fight taunt, he warned Bakole on Instagram: “Whoop your as the Naija way.”*
Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua backed Bakole to recover from his loss to Parker, saying:
“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 fellow Nigerian Ajagba, who aims to prove himself on one of boxing’s biggest stages.
With both fighters boasting knockout power, the May 3 showdown is expected to be an explosive contest. A win for Ajagba could propel him closer to a world title shot, while Bakole is determined to bounce back and reaffirm his status as an elite contender.
