WBC silver heavyweight champion Efe Ajagba retained his title on Sunday with a fourth-round technical knockout win over Australia’s Joe Goodall in a commanding performance that sealed his name as a legitimate contender in the division.
The win was the fourth on the bounce for Ajagba who had lost to Cuba’s Frank Sanchez in a below-par performance. His performance against Goodall was one of the best displays of the Nigerian since turning pro in 2017. The win also serves as revenge for Ajagba who lost a 2014 Commonwealth Games matchup against the Aussie.
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Ajagba had a perfect performance working well behind his jab. According to CompuBox statistics, Ajagba landed 61 of 140 total punches (44%), including 29 of 81 jabs (36%) and 32 of 59 power punches (54%). Goodall landed 28 of 81 total punches, split between 14 jabs and 14 power punches.
The Nigerian after the fight praised his trainer Kay Koroma for instilling a new level of confidence in him, “Right now, I come back with full confidence. That’s why I was able to take him out,” said Ajagba after the fight.
“Thank God they (trainers) pushed me through. They made me work hard, extremely hard, for this camp to make sure I stay in shape. I spar (with) a lot of different guys to make me stay strong.”
Ajagba’s next fight would likely be against highly rated 40-year-old Chinese pugilist Zhilei Zhang who sat ring side for the fight.
