Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba Battle to Majority Draw

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - A matchup billed as a potential breakout for one fighter turned into a competitive, tense chess match that ended with no clear winner. Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba fought to a majority draw over ten rounds, with scores of 96-94 Ajagba, and two cards even at 95-95, leaving the heavyweight picture just as murky as it was before the opening bell.

This was a bout between two men hovering on the edge of the top 10, both knowing a win would push them closer to the elite tier. Instead, it was an evening of missed chances, contrasting styles, and unresolved questions.

Ajagba (now 20-1-1, 14 KOs) fought a disciplined, mobile fight, relying on footwork, the jab, and his trademark right hand to keep the more plodding Bakole off balance. He boxed smartly early, landing the cleaner shots through the opening rounds, and looked sharper in the exchanges.

Bakole (now 21-2-1, 16 KOs), as expected, tried to walk Ajagba down and turn it into a pressure fight. He had some success on the ropes and inside, particularly with sneaky uppercuts and body shots, but looked a step behind for long stretches. The Congolese fighter, who came into the fight with questions about conditioning following a short-notice loss to Joseph Parker, did not answer them convincingly.

The early rounds favored Ajagba, who jabbed to the body, circled effectively, and kept Bakole guessing. A strong Round 3 saw Ajagba land a series of hard rights that seemed to shake Bakole. The Nigerian built a lead, but Bakole began clawing back in the middle rounds with pressure and flurries on the ropes.

In the eighth, Bakole had arguably his best moment, landing a hard flurry and backing Ajagba up — enough to bloody his nose and raise tension in the crowd. But Ajagba stayed composed and returned to movement and jabbing, staying clear of danger and preventing Bakole from ever fully seizing the momentum.

Round 10 saw Bakole press forward looking for a stoppage, but his lack of speed and angles allowed Ajagba to continue to box and evade. It was clear both corners felt urgency — Bakole’s pleading with their fighter to “go for it,” and Ajagba’s urging him to “stay off the ropes.”

Neither man left with a clean victory, but neither left with defeat. The crowd in Riyadh was appreciative but subdued as the decision was read. A win here would have vaulted the victor into immediate relevance in a fast-moving heavyweight field. Instead, both men remain in a holding pattern — promising, powerful, but still looking for that signature moment.

Ajagba showed that he can box with focus and distance control, but questions about his ability to close and finish remain. For Bakole, the strength is there, but his conditioning, pacing, and footwork once again limited his ability to fully capitalize on opportunities.

Final Result: Majority Draw – 96-94 (Ajagba), 95-95, 95-95