Efe Ajagba began his career with seven first-round finishes in eight fights in run that included bizarre disqualification

Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will look to stake his claim at a world title opportunity when he faces one of the division’s top athletes.

Ajagba will look to take out the highest-profile opponent of his career when he faces Martin Bakole. As one of the heaviest fighters of all time, the Nigerian will have a tough test when he faces to knockout artist.

However, Ajagba is no stranger to finishes either. He goes into the bout with 14 stoppages to his name, and a professional record of 20-1.

Stopping power is not something that Ajagba has recently added to his game. From the early stages of his career, the fighter showed he is capable of stopping anyone.

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Efe Ajagba started his career with an impressive run of finishes

Making his debut at the age of 23, Ajagba started his career in California in July 2017. In his first fight, Ajagba would earn a first-round knockout over Tyrrell Herdon.

Ending the fight in quick fashion, it would become a habit for the heavyweight. Three months later, he would have his second professional fight, once again scoring a first-round knockout.

The third fight of Ajagba’s career would see him reach the fifth round. However, he would be able to add a third successive knockout to his record in Brooklyn.

Ajagba would then return to finishing fights in the first round. For his next five fights, no opponent would make it to the second round.

In this run, Ajagba scored two stoppages in less than a minute. However, one of them came in bizarre circumstances.

Facing Curtis Harper, the fighter immediately exited the ring after the first bell rang. This meant that the fighter was disqualified in one of boxing’s most bizarre moments.

• READ MORE: Martin Bakole bounced back from first career loss with stoppage over former Wladimir Klitschko opponent in 2019

Efe Ajagba was dealt his first defeat in 2021 by Frank Sanchez

After notching up 15 wins by October 2021, Ajagba was paired up with Cuban fighter Frank Sanchez. Also undefeated, Sanchez held an 18-0 record.

Fighting on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III, Ajagba would succumb to his first loss.

With a relatively wide margin, the judges scored the contest in favor of the Cuban. Ajagba was bested by Sachez, ending his streak of 15 wins.

Sanchez would add five more wins to his resume before being bested by Agit Kabayel. Ajagba would also attain five further wins, setting up his bout with Bakole.