In a significant heavyweight contest between two powerful African fighters, Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba battled over 10 rounds in Riyadh, with the bout ultimately being ruled a majority draw. The judges` scorecards revealed differing opinions: Kieran McCann scored the fight 96-94 in favour of Ajagba, but this was balanced by Pablo Gonzalez and Bob Williams, who both scored it evenly at 95-95, leading to the majority draw decision.
Following his quick second-round knockout defeat to Joseph Parker in February (a fight he took on short notice), Bakole adopted a cautious approach early on, focusing on his jab to move forward. Ajagba managed to land a sharp right hand just before the end of the first round. The second round was less action-packed, with Bakole occasionally attempting reaching right hands.
Referee Howard Foster became attentive towards the end of the third round, poised to separate the large fighters after a period of heavy exchanges. Ajagba appeared to connect with the more impactful punches during this sequence, largely utilizing his right hand once again.
Bakole stepped up his activity in the fourth round, unleashing his characteristic uppercut and targeting the body effectively while Ajagba was positioned near the ropes. Conversely, Bakole seemed to take a break in the fifth round, possibly recuperating after his increased output in the previous round.
Ajagba`s mobility seemed to be wearing down the 299-pound Bakole, who looked less energetic and followed the Nigerian around the ring in the eighth round. Trainer Billy Nelson attempted to motivate Bakole from his corner as he seemed to be coasting towards the ninth. The commentators covering the fight for DAZN suggested that Ajagba held a clear lead at this stage.
As Bakole intensified his attack in the later rounds, Ajagba began to bleed from his nose. In Ajagba`s corner, trainer Kay Koroma urged his fighter to throw combinations as the tenth and final round commenced.
Bakole continued to swing punches aggressively throughout the last round. However, his late surge was not enough to secure a victory. His professional record now stands at 21-2-1, with 16 knockouts, while Ajagba`s record moved to 20-1-1, with 14 knockouts. During the post-fight interviews, the crowd reaction leaned in favour of Bakole, and both fighters expressed interest in facing each other again. Ajagba specifically mentioned his desire for the rematch to take place in the United States.
