Martin Bakole continues to be set to battle Efe Ajagba in Could regardless of his knockout defeat to Joseph Parker final month, says promoter Ben Shalom.
Bakole stepped up as a last-minute substitute to tackle Parker on February 22 when IBF world champion Daniel Dubois was pressured to withdraw from his title defence by means of sickness.
The heavyweight contender had already been scheduled to battle Ajagba in a world title ultimate eliminator, however answered the decision and took two flights on a journey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Riyadh, the place he landed on the morning of the competition in view of upsetting the percentages.
It was to not be, nevertheless, as Bakole suffered a second-round stoppage after tumbling beneath a blow to the highest of his head, however he’ll now get his probability to make rapid amends of types.
Bakole is now poised to characteristic on the undercard of super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez’s battle in opposition to William Scull in Saudi Arabia on Saturday Could 3.
“I think May 3, that will hopefully be announced in the next week or so,” BOXXER CEO Shalom advised Sky Sports activities.
“Canelo in Riyadh. I think the time zone is better for us, huge card so just made sense.”
Bakole will arrive 21-2 after struggling the second defeat of his skilled profession, whereas Ajagba is 20-1 having been out of the ring since beating Guido Vianello through break up choice final April.
“He’s been his usual self, upbeat and ready to go,” Shalom added. “The main thing for me was making sure he could be out quickly in a fight he could prepare for.
“I nonetheless imagine he is probably the most harmful heavyweight on the planet, he now must show that.”
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Highlights of Parker’s spectacular knockout victory in opposition to Bakole
It stays to be seen whether or not the battle will nonetheless function a ultimate eliminator, Bakole’s defeat to Parker having seemingly bumped him down the pecking order barely.
Nonetheless, he is aware of one other assertion victory thrusts him again into competition.
“The fight is on, he is definitely fighting and it’s going to be Ajagba,” stated Shalom.
“We’ll work out with the governing bodies how it’s going to work, he’s not dropped too far out with any of the governing bodies, he’s right there and I think people in boxing know what it was. I’m excited for him to have a full camp and show what he’s about.
“He is one battle away from being again within the combine, however Ajagba is a tricky battle and the stress is on, he has to carry out now, if he would not carry out in opposition to Ajagba and win then it is an issue. It is a huge battle in his profession and he’ll know that.”
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This is why nobody needed to battle Bakole
Whereas unsuccessful, Bakole was widely-praised for accepting the battle in opposition to Parker at simply two days’ discover as he sought to spice up his inventory on what had been billed as the best card in boxing historical past.
The chance didn’t repay, however Shalom is assured that, with a full window during which to correctly put together, Bakole can remind the world of why he poses such a risk to the highest names within the heavyweight division.
“His manager and trainer instructed me to do everything I can to make the fight, and I can only, in that position, do my job,” stated Shalom. “It was crazy, he knows that, it’s part of his character, he’s endeared himself to the fans.
“The most important downside at first of his profession was how we get folks to know who Martin Bakole is and now they know who he’s.
“It was a massive news story, he got hit on the top of the head, it could have happened in any fight.
“He is had his life-changing cash, however hopefully we are able to put together correctly and he can begin to get the fights he deserves to be in.”
Watch Natasha Jonas battle Lauren Worth on the Royal Albert Corridor stay on Sky Sports activities on Friday March 7.
