Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Predictions: Avoided Bakole is unavoidable for Ajagba

Martin Bakole has a quick turnaround as he steps in with the mercurial Efe Ajagba this Saturday, May 3. The Venue in Riyadh hosts the big-man battle, on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull for the undisputed super middleweight championship. DAZN PPV will bring you the event.

Here are my Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba predictions ahead of this heavyweight hoe-down.

Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Odds

Bakole is your 2/7 favourite while Ajagba is pitched at 3/1. If you fancy a draw, as well as being a braver person than me, you are burnished with a fine 16/1 price.

Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Fight Preview

For somebody often called “the most avoided heavyweight in the world”, Bakole doesn’t half stay active. This return three months after fighting Joseph Parker is part of an unplanned series of events, admittedly. 

Bakole’s bravery left him unable to turn down a big PPV crack at former WBO king Parker back in February. The Congolese fighter got the call just two days before the fight, after original opponent IBF champion Daniel Dubois pulled out. Essentially rising from his sofa for the opportunity, a game but off-his-game Bakole was stopped in two rounds.

That is the risk in this division. Especially when you weren’t even in camp and your opponent has been training for a fight against the heavyweight champion of the world. Bakole already had this Ajagba fight on the horizon, which at the time was an IBF final eliminator. But that sanctioning body does not allow you to box in an eliminator after a loss. Bakole risked it all and ended up with nothing.

The fans have generally been more forgiving than the IBF. Despite the two-round drubbing to Parker, most boxing followers acknowledge it was a near-impossible task and one that Bakole deserves plaudits, not scorn, for taking on.

No excuses this time though. Bakole goes in with a world-ranked heavyweight on a hot streak. Ajagba has been there-or-thereabouts for years. The big Nigerian looked close to the big time back in 2021. Then 15-0, the big-hitter took on canny Cuban Frank Sanchez on the Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III undercard.

But Ajagba looked subdued, perhaps overawed by the occasion. Sanchez had little trouble dominating a tame Efe, knocking him down and taking the decision on points. But Ajagba has rebounded well, racking up five victories with some decent names among them. Guido Vianello pushed him hard, but Ajagba nicked a split. Slapping the first loss on the record of Zhan Kossobutskiy was a formidable scalp too.

Bakole has bigger names on his record. The Scotland-based puncher snapped the unbeaten record of Tony Yoka, blasted out former world title challenger Carlos Takam and upset the applecart against Jared Anderson. People may scoff, but that “most avoided” label came about for a reason.

Now Bakole enters a new era. With big name fights behind and hopefully ahead of him, the 33-year-old can shed the “avoided” badge of honour. Bakole must get his hands dirty. Ajagba is a great test for that. This is a proper heavyweight fight between world-ranked contenders. The IBF be damned.

Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Full Card

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Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba Predictions

Here’s where it gets tasty. Both men can punch hard as hell, so rule nothing out. But I like Bakole’s staying power a bit more. The task got away from Ajagba against Sanchez and he went into his shell a bit. 

Ajagba was more forthcoming in his toe-to-toe war with Vianello, getting off the uppercut with particular aplomb. But if you get into that sort of range with Bakole, he generally puts you to sleep.

Ajagba has a three-inch reach advantage, but I don’t foresee that being enough to keep Bakole off. Ajagba is no Larry Holmes when it comes to pumping out that lead hand. I think whether the fight is at range or in-close, Bakole has the upper hand.

I’m picking Bakole to win this one by knockout at odds of 4/6. Ajagba has shipped shots in the past and never been stopped. But he has been hurt. I think Bakole possesses more finishing instincts than any previous Ajagba foe. That is why I believe the big man from the Democratic Republic of Congo wins this one inside the distance.

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