This contest is a final eliminator for the IBF heavyweight championship of the world.
This fight will appear on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez's and William Scull's clash for the IBF World Super Middleweight, WBC World Super Middleweight, WBO World Super Middleweight and WBA Super World Super Middleweight championships.
Also on the undercard will be Bruno Surace's and Jaime Munguia's contest, and Badou Jack's and Noel ‘Gevor’ Mikaelian's bout for the WBC World Cruiserweight title.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba.
When is Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba?
- Date: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
- Time: The heavyweight division will deliver a high-stakes clash as Martin Bakole (22-1, 16 KOs) faces Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight will take place on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull super-middleweight title bout.
What has been said?
Bakole has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 3 of them, going the distance once.
In his last fight, he lost to Joseph Parker on February 22, 2025, by knockout in the 2nd round in their WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship fight at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Prior to that, he had defeated Jared Anderson on August 3, 2024, by knockout in the 5th round at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, United States.
Going into that contest, he had beaten Carlos Takam on October 28, 2023, by technical knockout in the 4th round at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Before that, he had won against Ihor Shevadzutskyi on April 22, 2023, by technical knockout in the 3rd round at Rzeszow, Poland.
He had beaten Tony Yoka on May 14, 2022, by majority decision in their 10 round contest at Accord Hotels Arena, Paris, France.
Ajagba has won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 2 of them, going the distance 3 times.
In his last fight, he defeated Guido Vianello on April 13, 2024, by split decision in their 10 round contest at American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, United States.
Prior to that, he had defeated Joseph Goodall on November 4, 2023, by technical knockout in the 4th round at Tahoe Blue Event Center, Lake Tahoe.
Going into that contest, he had won against Zhan Kossobutskiy on August 26, 2023, by technical knockout in the 4th round at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa.
Before that, he had defeated Stephan Shaw on January 14, 2023, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona.
He had beaten Jozsef Darmos on August 27, 2022, by technical knockout in the 2nd round at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa.
When asked about whether the defeat to Parker would have dented Bakole's confidence, Ajagba said: "To me, in my opinion, I don't think so.
"I'm not going to take that knockout that he has [against Parker] to myself. I'm going to have more confidence to fight Martin Bakole.
"I'm preparing for [the best of] him."
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