…Ajagba names himself the heavyweight boogeyman
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has vowed to go all out and knock out his next opponent, Martin Bakole, citing the constant abuse and trash talk he’s received from the DR Congo fighter as his motivation.
Both fighters are set to clash in a highly anticipated heavyweight bout on May 3rd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was initially billed as a title eliminator, with the winner expected to face whoever emerges victorious between Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk in their forthcoming title fight.
However, the eliminator status was removed after Bakole suffered a first-round loss to Joseph Parker. He had stepped in on less than 48 hours’ notice to replace Daniel Dubois, who had withdrawn due to illness just days before the bout.
Bakole has been vocal and combative in his build-up to the fight against the Nigerian, frequently insulting the Nigerian fighter and even calling him a “baby” who would be knocked out without mercy. Ajagba, in response, said those remarks have fueled his desire to win convincingly.
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“Martin talks too much — he talks a lot of trash on social media,” the 31-year-old said when asked about the upcoming fight. “He’s been calling me names, and that has only pushed me to work harder and make sure I win.
“He called me a baby and said he would knock me out. That’s what’s pushing me to my limits.”
Once considered the “boogeyman” of the division before his recent defeat to Parker, Bakole has tried to reclaim his fearsome image. But Ajagba insists he is the true danger in the heavyweight ranks.
“He’s not a scary heavyweight — I am the scary heavyweight,” the Nigerian asserted. “Remember, someone once walked out of the ring instead of fighting me. Nobody has ever done that to him. That tells you everything you need to know.”
Both fighters have arrived in Riyadh ahead of their showdown, which is scheduled as one of the undercard bouts for the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull main event.
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