The much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole delivered drama, grit, and tension but no clear winner as the two African powerhouses fought to a majority draw on Saturday night at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With the pride of Africa and potential world title contention hanging in the balance, both men entered the ring with something to prove. Yet after 10 tense rounds, judges Bob Williams and Pablo Gonzalez scored the bout 95-95, while Kieran McCann saw it 96-94 in favor of Nigeria’s Ajagba.
Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs), known for his long reach and measured boxing approach, opted to stay mobile, circling the heavier Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KOs) and relying on crisp counters and smart movement. Bakole, on the other hand, adopted a pressure-first strategy, walking down his opponent and attempting to break him down with body shots and clubbing hooks.
From the opening bell, it was clear both fighters respected the stakes. Ajagba landed a sharp right hand in the closing seconds of the first round, but Bakole took it well, remaining composed and focused on his game plan. As the rounds wore on, Ajagba’s patience and movement proved frustrating for the Congolese slugger, who shouted “fight me!” in exasperation during the sixth.
Despite several bursts of aggression from Bakole, most notably in the third, fourth, and eighth rounds when he trapped Ajagba on the ropes and landed a series of hooks, the Nigerian was elusive and technically sound, always finding a way to escape serious danger.
Bakole, who wore a “RIP George Foreman” shirt in honor of the recently deceased boxing legend, made an emotional statement before the bout even began. Representing DR Congo, the country that hosted Foreman’s iconic 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle,” Bakole wore his nation’s flag proudly and hoped to channel the fighting spirit of a past era.
This marked Bakole’s second appearance in Riyadh in just ten weeks, having stepped in for a short-notice bout against Joseph Parker in February, which ended in a second-round defeat. This time, with a full training camp, he was determined to make a stronger statement, and he did, albeit without the victory.
Both fighters felt they had done enough to win. Ajagba, calm and reflective, said, “I won the fight, to be honest… but it’s not up to me to decide.” Bakole, equally defiant, hinted at unfinished business and called for a rematch: “I thought I won the fight, but it is what it is. I will ask His Excellency if I can have the rematch.”
The draw leaves both men in a holding pattern, neither gaining the definitive edge in their quest to be crowned Africa’s top heavyweight or pushing significantly closer to a title shot. However, the bout did highlight the talent and growing relevance of African heavyweights on the global scene.
The outcome practically demands a rematch, and fans will surely be eager to see it. Whether in Africa, the Middle East, or on a major undercard elsewhere, Ajagba vs. Bakole II now feels inevitable.
Until then, the debate over who Africa’s top heavyweight truly is will remain just that, a debate.
