Nigeria’s world heavyweight title prospect, Efe Ajagba, whose fight with Congo’s Martin Bakole, Saturday night, was declared a draw by the judges, claims that everybody, including Bakole’s manager, agrees that he won the fight.
Speaking after the fight, Ajagba, who was with Bakole during the post fight interview, told the Congolese that even his manager told him the he should have been declared the winner.
Ajagba, who called for a rematch with the highly-rated Bakole, said he was baffled by the judges’ majority decision, which has made either boxer’s quest for a quick shot at the world heavyweight title more difficult.
A win would have made Ajagba a mandatory contender for any of the world titles currently held by Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
Earlier, Bakole, who also claimed that he won the bout, said that he is open to a rematch with his Nigerian opponent.
He said that he will knock Ajagba out in their rematch if he has a full training camp.
“After losing against Parker I worked hard. I thought I won this fight. The judges say draw. I will ask His Excellency for the rematch on a full camp. I think this guy here knows I was struggling to lose weight. It was clever. With a full camp the fight won’t go 10 rounds,” Bakole said.
Ajagba, who also said that he is open to the rematch, added, however, that he did enough to win Saturday’s fight.
“I won the fight. It’s not for me to decide it’s the judges. My game plan was to use my footwork but I got a little bit tired. He kept putting pressure on me. My jab wasn’t working as well. I want the rematch for sure. I want it in the United States.”
With plenty of the top heavyweights already having fights confirmed, a rematch between the two men may be the best option.
After 10 rounds, Bakole and Ajagba couldn’t be separated.
The two men met in Saudi Arabia as part of the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull card, with Bakole back in action just over two months on from his second round knockout defeat to Joseph Parker.
Bakole had taken that bout with Parker on just 48 hours’ notice, and it seemed like there may have still been some lingering effects 10 weeks on, as he appeared to still be far from his best against Ajagba.
There were moments of success for Bakole, but Ajagba appeared to dictate a lot of the action, with many boxing pundits believing he had done enough to win at the conclusion of the bout.
It wasn’t to be though as a majority draw verdict was announced after 10 rounds of action, with the judges scoring it 96-94 Ajagba, and 95-95 twice.
