Ajagba to Face Bakole in IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator Bout in May

Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba is set to face Martin Bakole in a highly anticipated International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminator in May, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ world heavyweight title. The fight, which will take place in the United States, will be part of a star-studded card organized by Saudi boxing magnate Turki Alalshikh, which will also feature major matchups such as Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero and Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez.

Ajagba, who boasts an impressive record of 20 wins and just one loss, with 14 knockouts, recently issued a warning to Bakole by sharing footage of his brutal knockout victory over Brian Howard on social media. “Lights out in seconds! Efe ‘The Silent Roller’ Ajagba doesn’t play when he steps in the ring. Who’s next?” the Nigerian heavyweight posted on Instagram.

The eliminator bout came to fruition after Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang withdrew from facing Bakole, clearing the way for Ajagba to step in as the seventh-ranked IBF contender. Bakole, ranked No. 4 in the IBF standings, has been in outstanding form, especially after his dominant fifth-round knockout of the previously unbeaten American prospect Jared Anderson in California last August.

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“You don’t stand with Martin Bakole. I am a big man and I am a machine. No one wants to fight me,” declared the Congolese fighter, who holds a record of 21 wins, including 16 knockouts, and just one defeat.

Promoter Ben Shalom has high expectations for the bout, telling Sky Sports, “Fighting Martin Bakole, would you want your heavyweight fighting Martin Bakole? People have probably looked at the last few fights and seen what’s happened to Jared Anderson, and he can make very good fighters look very average.”

The stakes are high, as the winner will become the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title. Dubois will defend his title against Joseph Parker on February 22. A potential unification bout against the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch could also await the eventual mandatory challenger.

Ajagba, who is currently on a five-fight winning streak following his only career defeat to Frank Sanchez in 2021, is coming off a split decision win over Italian Olympian Guido Vianello.