The highly anticipated IBF heavyweight title eliminator between Nigerian boxer Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole of DR Congo is now in doubt. This uncertainty arose after Bakole agreed to replace the ill Daniel Dubois in a fight against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) was originally scheduled to face Ajagba in an IBF eliminator in May in New York. The winner of that fight would then challenge current IBF champion, Daniel Dubois, who himself was supposed to fight New Zealander Joseph Parker.
However, Dubois’ illness forced him to withdraw, and Bakole stepped in to fight Parker instead. This new matchup was reportedly arranged very quickly.
Bakole is known for his powerful punches, but Parker has faced and defeated other strong punchers like Deontay Wilder and China’s Zhilei Zhang.
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Before Bakole was announced as Dubois’ replacement, former cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie, heavyweight contender David Adeleye, and unbeaten Mourad Aliev were considered.
Bakole’s decision to fight Parker has put his planned bout with Ajagba in jeopardy, especially since it was supposed to happen in less than three months. Some boxing experts believe Bakole is the stronger and more experienced fighter, and that a fight against Ajagba would be an easier path to a title shot against Dubois.
According to Ring Magazine, this situation has created complications. The future of the Ajagba vs. Bakole fight will likely be decided after the Parker vs. Bakole match.
Ring Magazine also reported that the IBF is unsure how to proceed with determining their mandatory challenger, given these recent changes. The Ajagba vs. Bakole fight was originally planned for May as part of a Ring Magazine event in New York City.
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