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Missing Martin: Bakole hype train close to derailing after Efe Ajagba draw in Saudi Arabia
The boxing cognoscenti seem to be split in their estimation of Martin Bakole.
For some he is the new George Foreman, the biggest boogeyman in the heavyweight division who is being avoided by all the big names. For others he is a massively overrated hype job whose reputation has been built on self-reported sparring successes against actual elite heavyweight fighters.
- Read more | Dangerous contender or eventual gatekeeper? Martin Bakole lingers at potential crossroads
And after Saturday night in Saudi, we are perhaps still no closer to finding out the truth. In an all-African heavyweight battle that was entertaining without ever really catching fire, Bakole and Ajagba battled to a spirited 10-round majority draw in Riyadh.
When the result was announced Bakole was clearly the more relieved of the two fighters, with many believing Ajagba should have been given the nod. DAZN broadcaster Chris Mannix had it 6-4 Ajagba, and in truth the fight was close with Bakole showing more urgency down the stretch after a ponderous start.
Bakole is the ultimate loose cannon, a fighter who must exasperate trainer Billy Nelson at times.
He was too economical in the first couple of rounds but exploded into life in the fourth, bringing his signature uppercut to the party along with some solid body shots as Ajagba seemed to linger on the ropes and did well to take a heavy left hook – delivered with real venom by Bakole - to the temple.
The momentum was clearly with the man from the Democratic Republic Of Congo, who then inexplicably took round five off, electing to do virtually nothing for three minutes following his exertions in the fourth.
The fight ebbed and flowed thereafter, and while the draw was far from a robbery Bakole did indeed seem slightly fortunate not to rack up back-to-back defeats after that February 22 blowout loss at ridiculously short notice to Jospeh Parker.
That second-round TKO defeat in February – while ticking a lot of boxes for Bakole financially – has impacted his reputation as a heavyweight contender. He was on the cusp of an IBF title shot before taking that assignment, but at the age of 33 his career now seems in limbo (certainly in the short term).
Bakole’s stock rose dramatically with that fifth-round destruction of Jared Anderson in California in August 2024 but clearly, he has not capitalised like he might have done since that win.
The pre-fight narrative here again focused on Bakole’s conditioning, or lack of it.
Big Martin weighed in at 299 lbs, causing plenty of people to wonder just how hard he had trained for Ajagba? With tongue firmly in cheek, Queensberry Promotions media guy Dev Sahni said on X/Twitter before the fight, “Curious to see what Martin Bakole rehydrates to.”
Full disclosure. I was fully on board the Bakole hype. At his best he’s game, massively powerful and he's coming at you all night.
The footwork might be limited but his shot selection is decent, and he carries power – in both hands - with his punches.
However, at this level, prize fighting is all about optimum preparation. Losing only 11lbs in just shy of 10 weeks, when you are starting at 310lbs, is quite telling.
The truth is you could lose that and then some in 10 weeks just by eating clean, never mind training.
Bakole said afterwards he would like a rematch against Ajagba with a full camp, alluding that things had again not been running smoothly in terms of his training for this.
At the age of 33 he simply does not have time for another rebuild should he lose, and Saturday’s draw potentially ties-up both him and Ajagba for the rest of the year if they are serious about a rematch.
For all his flaws as a fighter, Bakole remains an affable sort, and it was pleasantly surprising to see the Saudi crowd cheering him loudly during the post-fight interviews.
The now 21-2-1 (16 KOs) heavyweight really needs to get serious from here, and you really cannot underestimate what a proper camp does for a fighter. It’s not just the weight and general fitness but Bakole’s timing, speed and judgement of distance have looked off in his last two fights.
He gets a pass for the Parker fight, essentially jumping off the couch at 48 hours’ notice to travel halfway around the world and fight on ‘The Last Crescendo’ to ensure there was a heavyweight attraction on that brilliant bill.
However, weighing 299 here and watching him struggle at times to cut down the ring against a heavyweight not really known for his elusiveness, in hindsight this felt like an opportunity missed.
Given the fact he was also taking rounds off in a 10-round fight one can reasonably surmise he was not in optimum condition.
Indeed, when asked in an interview after the fight by Ring Magazine what went wrong, trainer Nelson was refreshingly honest as he said, “he was too heavy. He was too heavy.”
In the same interview, Nelson also revealingly said when pressed about his fighter’s weight: “I’m in the gym with Martin. Am not with him twenty-four seven and I cannot determine what goes in and out of his mouth food-wise.”
There is talk about a nutritionist and a strength and conditioning coach being added to his team, and if not now then when?
There are green shoots of hope for those in the Bakole business. Despite his condition on Saturday, he clearly won the final two rounds to salvage a draw. If he can get down to around 284 – the weight he was for that destruction of Jared Anderson – he could be back in business. However, at this moment in time it’s a big ‘if’.
The Turki era is such a boom time for heavyweight boxing and for those willing to be disciplined and grasp the opportunity the money is absolutely life changing. Bakole has done alright financially, but if you’re getting paid that amount to box on such a big stage the minimum requirement is to be fighting fit.
The big man from DR Congo insists he has handled Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois among others in sparring.
If this is true, then he is under-achieving as a pro. They say nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent, and with the heavyweight division crying out for a new kingpin as Messrs Usyk, Joshua and Tyson Fury wind down their illustrious careers, it’s surely time for Bakole to put up or shut up.
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