Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba LIVE RESULTS: Fight ends in controversy after 10 brutal rounds as both fighters want rematch
MARTIN BAKOLE returned to the ring against Efe Ajagba in Saudi Arabia.
After 10 brutal rounds, the fight went to the judges' scorecards, and the bout was declared a majority draw.
One judge scored it 96-94 in favour of Ajagba, while the two others both had it 95-95.
After the fight, Bakole and Ajagba both stated that they thought they had done enough to win the clash and are open to a rematch.
The pair met on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs William Skull as the Mexican defends his WBA, WBC and WBO super-middleweight titles in Saudi Arabia to set up a thrilling encounter with Terence Crawford.
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Alvarez vs Scull
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defeated William Scull via unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia to regain the undisputed super-middleweight title.
Scull frustrated Alvarez as he danced around the ring for 12 rounds.
Ultimately, Canelo's power punches to the body won him the boxing bout in front of a bored-looking Terence Crawford, who was in attendance at the Anb Arena.
More from Canelo
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez hinted that that a match with Terence Crawford could be even greater than his historic clash against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and unforgettable two meetings with Gennady Golovkin in 2017 and 2018.
I have a lot of big fights. A lot of big fights, a lot of good fights in my career.
I'm focused on this fight, and we'll see, we'll see if that fight happens. We'll see, maybe it's gonna be the biggest? We don't know.
Saul 'Canelo' AlvarezCanelo on Crawford fight
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez warned he will show everyone "what greatness looks like" when he faces Terence Crawford.
Everything happens for a reason and there's a reason why I'm here.
In September I'll show the world what greatness looks like.
Crawford is one of the best out there and I like to share with that kind of fighter.
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez
Alvarez vs Crawford set to headline boxing
That being said, Canelo did the job many expected and has granted the world of boxing what they've yearned for:
The pair will dispute for the undisputed super-middleweight world champion.
Alvarez vs Crawford details
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is now set to face Terence Crawford after beating William Scull in Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez and Crawford will lock horns on September 12 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Crawford - a four-division and two-weight undisputed champion - will have to move up from light-middleweight for the fight with Canelo.
Boxing, what boxing?
It hasn't been the most penetrative weekend of boxing so far.
In New York, Devin Haney's unremarkable win was a reactive bout of nothing but timid sparring.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull set the record for the fewest combined punches thrown in a 12-round fight with 445 for their dust-up in Riyadh.
Morning reading
Includes confirmation of a blockbuster fight and return of a living legend:
Big hitter struggles to impose
There is no doubting Martin Bakole can hurt an opponent with the power behind his punches.
However, boxing has become far more tactical and he met someone this evening looking to turn off the danger he poses.
If the two are to meet again, he will need to find some way to get inside more and let his hands go.
Credit: Getty No more bad blood
Speaking with DAZN after the fight, Martin Bakole was quizzed about all the bad blood in the lead up to the fight and whether it was still there.
Bakole said this is just what happens in the build-up and declared him and Ajagba brothers as he walks over and embraces him.
There is something poetic about two warring parts of Africa putting difference to one side and recognising that they are now brothers.
Credit: Getty
Battle of Africa.........take two
You have to wonder what a rematch offers either of these fighters.
Aside from the winner maybe getting a shot against Usyk or Dubois.
It is unlikely that Parker will want a rematch with Bakole there seems to be nothing in it for the Kiwi to beat him again.
Credit: Getty Bakole lucky to draw
Over the course of the ten rounds, most scorecards had this down as a win for Efe Ajagba.
The majority draw verdict seemed to come as a surprise but you wonder whether they scored Bakola more for wanting to just throw down and fight.
While it shouldn't work that way, Ajagba was looking to use the ring and happy not to get drawn into a slugging match.
Despite that, he did land punches but we did not see much in the way of trading blows.
Credit: Getty Boogeyman playing to the crowd
After the fight, Martin Bakole has said he wants to fight in Riyadh again and thanks the Saudi prince for inviting him to the country.
He said he thinks he did enough to win the fight and would be happy to have a rematch,
Bakole then asks the crowd if they would like to see a rematch instead between him and Joseph Parker, to a big cheer.
Credit: Getty Not Efe happy
Speaking with DAZN after the fight about the result:
I won the fight to be honest. I won that fight. It is not up to me, the judges decide. He keep putting pressure, I had to keep going. Of course I want a rematch for sure, I want a rematch in the United States.
Efe AjagbaJudges decide on majority draw
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 10)
Ajagba's tactics seemed to have work tonight.
Bakole just didn't get inside and get big shots off often enough.
By the time he started to try, Ajagba was so far ahead he could just utilise the ring and stay out of range.
Credit: Getty
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 9)
Both fighters start to let their hands go in this round.
Bakole is landing some good shots that really rock Ajagba.
He replies with some good combos which get through.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 8)
Ajagba starts the round well and moves around and continues to frustrate Bakole, who tries goading him into the middle of the ring.
Towards the end of the round, Bakole gets inside and starts landing big head shots that have Ajagba bloodied and drained.
The bell comes at the right time for him to have a breather.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 7)
Ajagba is looking to move around the ring more.
He knows when he does that, Bakole cannot get a grip of the fight.
Bakole occasionally manages to get inside and land some good punches but is also getting caught by counters.
Credit: Getty Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 6)
Bakole starts the round coming inside and getting punches off.
The problem he is doing this too little and is well down on the card as a result.
Not that it will bother Bakole, his plan was always to win this by stoppage and nothing has changed there.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 5)
Much better round for Ajagba there.
He started putting some distance between the pair and then coming inside and retreating.
Ajagba catches Bakole with some real big hits and bosses the round.
Credit: Getty Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 4)
What a great round that was for Bakole.
He started to drive forward and get inside and just start spraying big hits all over Ajagba.
Towards the end of the round it looks like they are having their effect and it is grinding down Ajagba.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 3)
Bakole is not getting inside to let his hands go.
Ajagba is able to come over the top with big right hands and twice rocks his opponent.
After that Parker loss you woder if Bakole can take these hits.
Towards the end of the round Bakole gets inside and lands a good combination of hard hits with his opponent on the ropes and unable to get away.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 2)
Bakole takes on his instructons from his corner.
He starts to look to work Ajagba with body shots.
Ajagba is looking to come over the top with counters.
He needs to be wary that Bakole will be willing to lose rounds just to try and set up that big knockout punch.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Round 1)
Ajagba looks to utilise the jab early.
Bakole does not have much of a defence and they are able to get through to the head.
It is Ajagba who seems to be on the front-foot more and comes inside and fires off a good combination of punches.
He retreats and looks to work the body with jabs.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba
Two big entrances from both fighters.
Bakole is followed in by a hype man singing to get started.
Ajagba is wearing a t-shirt saying 'RIP George Foreman' along with vary images of different points of the heavyweight's career.