Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more controversial, here we are. Lance Pugmire has the scoop: Martin Bakole versus Efe Ajagba is getting a new date. Initially set for the Riyadh Season event on May 2nd in New York, the fight will now join Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull the day after.
Honestly, I’m not on board with pushing Bakole (21-2, 16 KO) back into the ring with just over a couple of months to recover. Not only did he hit the canvas hard just two rounds into his match with Joseph Parker, but he also looked way out of shape, tipping the scales at a whopping 310 pounds. Sure, Ajagba (20-1, 14 KO) might not be on Parker’s level, but he’s got that dangerous knockout punch and enough skill to capitalize if Bakole isn’t firing on all cylinders.
I just can’t wrap my head around the logic here. Bakole’s reputation as a tough contender is already on shaky ground, only barely held together by the unusual context of his last fight. Diving back into a bout with a formidable, albeit less-renowned heavyweight like Ajagba, especially if Bakole hasn’t had the time to get back into top condition, feels more like flirting with disaster than showing true grit.
