Ajagba gets world title chance as IBF orders pre-Dubois fight with Bakole

Nigeria’s brightest world heavyweight boxing prospect, Efe Ajagba, now has the chance to stake his claim to Daniel Dubois’ world title following the order by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) that he should battle Congo’s Martin Bakole for a chance to fight for the ultimate crown.

This prompted the IBF to turn to Ajagba, who at number seven as their next highest available contender, to box Bakole, their number four.
Bakole looked imperious when stopping Jared Anderson and Carlos Takam in his last two fights. He is now gunning for a shot at the IBF championship, which Britain’s Dubois defended with his stunning knockout victory over Joshua, at Wembley Stadium, in September.
 
The Congolese fighter sent out a warning to the division with the stoppage win over highly-touted American Anderson.
“You don’t stand with Martin Bakole. I am a big man and I am a machine,” he declared after that win. “No one wants to fight me. I’m a machine. I’m in this sport to take over. I want to be No. 1.”

Dubois is due to make a voluntary defence of his IBF title in February, with Joseph Parker tipped as the potential opponent for the British world champion’s next fight.

The IBF had previously stated that Dubois will be notified on approximately April 22 of his mandatory for June. They state the champion “shall be obligated to mandatorily defend his championship within intervals of no more than nine months against the leading available contender in the heavyweight division as designated by the championship’s chairman.”