The heavyweight clash between the Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba contestants has been transferred to the billboard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. event. William Scull on May 3 in Riad, Saudi Arabia.
Bakole-Ajagba had been initially scheduled to fight at the May 2 of Square in New York City. It makes sense to add the fight to the Canelo card. For obvious reasons, you must reinforce it to help attract interest. There is
Lance Pugmire of Boxingscene gave the news that Bakole-Ajagba was transferred to May 3. Bakole (21-2, 16 kos) was knocked out in the second round by Joseph Parker Last month, arriving as a late replacement on February 22 in Riyadh.
Threat of knockout
Ajagba of 6’6 ″ (20-1, 14 kos) is a much larger hitter than Parker, and there is a concern that he can obtain a similar elimination of Bakole. This is a dangerous guy for any fighter, with them leaving a bad blow.
If there is any persistent effect for Bakole of Parker’s fight, Ahabaga can take advantage of that. Martin will not reject it. This is one of the events of the Riad season. So, you can’t afford to tell you no.
Ajagba, 30, will come from a 13 -month dismissal from his victory of divided decision of 10 rounds over Guido Vianello last year on April 13. The 2016 Ajagba Ajagba won his last five fights since he lost to Frank Sánchez for a unanimous decision of 10 rounds on October 9, 2021. Ajagba was demolished in the seventh round of that fight, and surpassed by Cuban talent.
Bakole conditioning problems
Martin did not have a training camp to prepare for the fight, and entered a form of 310 pounds. Parker took advantage of Bakole’s conditioning and movements to knock him out. The blow that Parker landed for the knockout blow was one that Bakole did not see coming because he was throwing his own right hand. It was a photo that would have generally taken, but caught him by surprise.
It is a fight that Bakole could have won if its weight were in the range of 270 to 280, but not in 310 pounds. He hurt Parker with a great right hand in the first round, but could not finish it due to his poor condition.
Bakole could have been in his return from Victoria since his Quinta Ronda knockout victory over Jared Anderson last August when he was contacted to be Parker’s replacement opponent. He was not fit to fight with anyone, much less a contender among the top five like Parker. It is a lesson for the fighters: you must stay in form among fights.
Last update on 05/03/2025