MARTIN Bakole returns to Saudi Arabia this weekend, looking to bounce back after his defeat to Joseph Parker last time.
Bakole rather comically stepped in with 36 hours’ notice to take on Parker after Dubois pulled out, and was quickly punished by the New Zealander for his lack of prep.
The Congolese will look to regain his standing this weekend when he meets Efe Ajagba, a man once seen to be a rising star in the division, in a final eliminator to determine the next number 1 contender.
Let’s look at how the bookies expect this one to play out in this Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba odds and betting guide.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba odds
Bakole vs Ajagba fight outcome odds
The following are the best odds available for the potential finishes of Saturday’s fight:
- Martin Bakole by KO, TKO or DQ – 4/6
- William Scull by KO, TKO or DQ – 15/2
- Martin Bakole by Decision or Technical Decision – 3/1
- William Scull by Decision or Technical Decision – 13/2
- Draw or Technical Draw – 16/1
Odds are provided by bet365 and are subject to change.
Martin Bakole’s form and latest fights
Martin Bakole will be looking for some redemption after being schooled by Joseph Parker during his last trip to Saudi Arabia. In Bakole’s defence, he took the fight as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Dubois and was far from fighting fit when he stepped into the ring. Before that defeat, Bakole was on a roll, scoring impressive stoppage victories against Jared Anderson and Carlos Takam. He will look to get back on track on Saturday and add another win to his 16-2-0 record.
Stats:
- Age: 31
- Height: 6ft 3in
- Weight: 267 lbs
- Record: 21-2-0
Efe Ajagba’s form and latest fights
The bookies have Efe Ajagba out at 7/2, but the Nigerian-born fighter is not to be underestimated. He comes into the fight with a 20-1-0 record, with his solitary defeat being a decision loss to Frank Sanchez in 2021. The Silent Roller has an explosive right hook, but he has been a little trigger-shy in recent years, with just one of his fights since his defeat to Sanchez ending by stoppage. He was once hailed as a rising star, with 13 of his 15 fights ending by stoppage, but the defeat appears to have knocked his confidence, and he has not let his hands fly in quite the same way since. Saturday is a major opportunity for him to prove he deserves to hang with the big boys.
Stats:
- Age: 31
- Height: 6ft 5in
- Weight: 247 lbs
- Record: 20-1-0
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba betting tips
Martin Bakole is the clear favourite among most top UK bookmakers on Saturday night. As such, if you want value in this fight, you need to look at the alternative markets. We’ve selected these three tips as our best bets for Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba on Saturday night.
Tip #1 – Martin Bakole to Win by KO/TKO/DQ
Martin Bakole will be looking to make a statement on Saturday. His last performance in Riyadh saw Joseph Parker bring his ten-fight unbeaten run to a shattering halt inside two rounds.
Bakole stepped into the fight at the last minute, though, and he will be keen to show that it was not a reflection of his current form.
He will look to secure the stoppage victory over a tough Ajagba and move on to face Dubois or Usyk. We believe there is value in backing him to win via KO/TKO/DQ at 4/6 with bet65.
➡️ Back Martin Bakole to win by KO/TKO/DQ at 4/5 with bet365
Tip #2 – Total rounds under 7.5 at evens
Saturday’s fight will see two of the heavyweight division’s biggest hitters step into the ring together, and it is a battle with stoppage written all over it. Bakole has won 16 of his 21 wins by knockout, with only two of his last ten fights going over five rounds.
He will want to get back to this kind of form on Saturday night and will want an early knockout. While there is a very good chance it ends sooner, at evens, I believe there is excellent value in betting on the fight to last under 7.5 rounds at evens with bet365.
➡️ Back under 7.5 total rounds at evens with bet365
Tip #3 – Fight to go the Distance
As we’ve already discussed, Baloke will be looking to make a statement on Saturday night and will want to ensure he defeats his opponent emphatically.
The Congolese star has not seen a fight go the distance since 2020, and I don’t suspect that run will end at the weekend. Bakole and Ajagba have some serious knockout power, and this is not likely to be a heavyweight showdown that goes the distance. You can back the fight not to go the distance at 4/9 with Betfred.
➡️ Back the fight not to go the distance at 4/9 with Betfred
📺 How to watch Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba will be live on DAZN PPV for UK residents. You can purchase the show for £21.99 or pay £34.99 for both this and the Time Squares boxing event taking place on Friday night.
- Location: ANB Arena in Riyadh
- Date and time: May 3rd 2025
- How to watch: DAZN PPV
Other fights on the card
Saturday’s show will be headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull, a match in which Canelo attempts to get all of the super middleweight gold back around his waist.
Elsewhere on the card, Badou Jack puts his WBC cruiserweight title on the line when he steps in the ring against Norair Mikaeljan, while Jaime Mungui will be out for revenge against Bruno Surace in what promises to be one of the night’s most exciting encounters.
- Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
- Bruno Surace vs Jaime Mungui
- Badou Jack vs Norair Mikaeljan
- Marco Verde vs Michel Polina
- Brayan Leon vs Aaron Guerrero
- Richard Riakporhe vs Kevin Nicolas Espindola
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
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