Martin Bakole’s upcoming clash with Efe Ajagba will no longer be an IBF final eliminator.
The Congolese heavyweight had been ordered to box Ajagba on May 2 in New York to decide the mandatory for the full world title, which is currently in Daniel Dubois‘ possession.
That fight will still go ahead, however, the final eliminator status has been stripped as a result of Bakole’s knockout loss to Joseph Parker over the weekend.
“He’s taken a risk and it’s not paid off. Ultimately he still fighting on May 2,” Nelson told Ring Magazine.
“It won’t be a final eliminator now but His Excellency said that he will still be fighting on May 2 against Efe Ajagba so it is straight back in the gym in the middle to end of next week and he needs to get a full camp behind him.”
Nelson later confirmed to talkSPORT.com that Bakole vs Ajagba is no longer a final eliminator as a result of Bakole’s loss.
Parker was set to fight Dubois for the IBF title on Saturday night.
But the Brit was withdrawn from the bill on the doctors’ advice after falling ill with a viral infection.
Organisers scrambled for a replacement with Lawrence Okolie, David Adeleye and Mourad Aliev all contacted to step in.
But it was Bakole, who got the call after his trainer and manager Billy Nelson campaigned for the fight on social media.
Bakole was with family in Congo when he received the green light from boxing chief Turki Alalshikh on Thursday night.
He hopped on a 3,800-mile flight to Saudi Arabia the next day, which consisted of three separate trips.
The first plane took him from Congo to Ethiopia, then to Dubai, before landing in Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Saturday morning.
When he made his way to the ring, Bakole was clipped on the top of the head with a clubbing right hand in the second round that sent him hurtling to the canvas.
To his credit, he made his way back to his feet but he did so on unsteady legs, leading to Nelson throwing in the towel.
Dissecting Bakole’s wild 48 hours, Nelson added: “Martin got offered the fight at 7pm Thursday night and he accepted the fight.
“It was life-changing money for him even though he hadn’t sparred since August.
“When you say yes you know the risks and Martin was in that fight until he got clipped and I wasn’t happy with the reaction.
“When he got up off the floor, I stopped the fight and I am comfortable with that.”
Bakole may have missed out on the IBF opportunity but he will have surely won the favour of Alalshikh, which could be just as valuable in the long run.
