The long-anticipated all-African heavyweight bout between Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Martin Bakole ended in a 10-round majority draw on Saturday night in Riyadh, leaving the question of who is Africa’s top heavyweight unresolved.
Held at the ANB Arena, the bout was billed as a decisive contest not just for continental bragging rights, but also as a potential stepping stone towards a world title shot. Yet, after a closely contested encounter, judges Bob Williams and Pablo Gonzalez scored it 95-95, with a third judge, Kieran McCann, giving Ajagba the edge at 96-94.
Ajagba, who improved to 20 wins, one loss, and one draw, believed he had done enough to win. “I won the fight, to be honest. It’s not up to me to decide, it’s the judges’ decision. But if you ask me, I won the fight,” the Nigerian said after the decision was announced.
Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KOs) also insisted he had done enough to secure victory. “I thought I won the fight but it is what it is,” he said, adding that he would consult with his team about seeking a rematch.
In a nod to boxing history, Bakole entered the ring wearing a shirt emblazoned with “RIP George Foreman” in tribute to the late heavyweight legend. The DR Congo native also donned his national flag, referencing the famed “Rumble in the Jungle” that took place in Kinshasa in 1974.
The fight itself was a strategic chess match. Ajagba, lighter by 59 pounds, opted for movement, circling the ring and landing occasional counter-punches to disrupt Bakole’s aggressive forward march. Bakole, by contrast, pressed for a stoppage, closing the distance and unleashing heavy hooks whenever he trapped Ajagba on the ropes.
After a tentative opening round, Ajagba scored with a solid right hand. He had more success in the third, catching Bakole with counters until the Congolese fighter responded with a powerful left hook that sent Ajagba to the ropes.
The Congolese boxer maintained the pressure through the middle rounds, but Ajagba’s defence and footwork kept him from suffering serious damage. Frustrated, Bakole at one point shouted, “F**k you, man. Fight me,” as Ajagba refused to be drawn into a brawl.
Bakole’s best moment came in the eighth, when he trapped Ajagba and landed a series of punishing shots, including a particularly stinging left hook. Yet, as had been the pattern throughout, Ajagba managed to escape before sustained damage could be inflicted.
In the closing rounds, Bakole kept up the pursuit but was unable to break through Ajagba’s evasive style. As the final bell rang, both corners remained uncertain of the result—an uncertainty matched by the scorecards.
The outcome leaves both men in limbo, with neither able to claim clear superiority on the continent nor move significantly closer to a world title challenge. However, given the competitive nature of the bout and their mutual desire for a rematch, a second meeting between Ajagba and Bakole may be inevitable.
