by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Nigeria
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has been listed as one of Top Rank’s six fighters to watch in 2025. The promotional company highlighted Ajagba alongside other rising stars, including Christian Mbilli from France and Puerto Rican prospect Xander Zayas, in a video shared on their social media platforms.
The 30-year-old Ajagba, with an impressive record of 20 wins (14 KOs) and one loss, is preparing for a pivotal International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title eliminator against Martin Bakole. The winner of the clash will earn a mandatory title shot against current champion Daniel Dubois.
Initially slated for the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol rematch card on February 22 in Riyadh, the Ajagba-Bakole bout has been rescheduled to a later date, according to Top Rank Vice President Carl Moretti.
“It’s agreed to,” Moretti confirmed. “It was supposed to be on the February show, but they moved it off. I anticipate it will be on the next show after February.”
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom expressed excitement about the matchup, stating, “That’s a fight we’d like to put on. Martin is one fight away from challenging for a world title, and I’m sure Riyadh would be interested in hosting it again.”
Bakole, currently ranked third by the IBF, gained significant momentum after defeating previously unbeaten Jared Anderson in August. Ajagba, ranked fifth, is eyeing his chance to climb the ranks and secure his first shot at a world title.
Other fighters featured in Top Rank’s “2025 Fighters to Watch” list include Americans Bruce Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), Keyshawn Davis (12-0, 8 KOs), and Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs).
The winner of the Ajagba-Bakole showdown will position themselves for a future IBF title fight, with Dubois scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker. A potential unification bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury could further shake up the heavyweight division.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | International, Nigeria, Other Sports
Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens coach, Sarah Bhakita, has expressed optimism about her team’s chances at the ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia. Following impressive warm-up games against Pakistan and Scotland, the team heads into the tournament full of confidence.
The team wrapped up their warm-up matches with a commanding seven-wicket victory over 14th-ranked Scotland on Wednesday, building on a strong performance against eighth-ranked Pakistan the previous day.
In the game against Pakistan, Nigeria restricted the Asian side to 105/6, showcasing disciplined bowling. Despite a promising start to the chase, they fell just 11 runs short, finishing at 94/6.
The team bounced back impressively against Scotland, dismissing them for 62 runs in 17.5 overs. Captain Lucky Piety’s unbeaten 28 off 16 balls and Victory Igbinedion’s steady 25 led Nigeria to victory in just 11.3 overs.
Coach Bhakita emphasized the importance of the lessons learned during the warm-ups, stating, “Winning builds confidence, and we hope to perform even better in the main tournament.”
Nigeria will open their campaign against fellow debutants Samoa on Saturday before taking on New Zealand and South Africa in their group games.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, International, Nigeria
Anthony Joshua has kept quiet following Tyson Fury’s shocking announcement of retirement from boxing. The “Gypsy King” declared his departure from the sport after suffering a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month, leaving fans disappointed about the potential £150 million superfight between Joshua and Fury, which now seems unlikely to happen.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Joshua hasn’t reacted to Fury’s announcement, indicating the former heavyweight champion is focused on rebuilding his career after his loss to Daniel Dubois in September. Hearn speculated Fury’s announcement might be a strategic move rather than a genuine retirement.
“My gut feeling is we’ll still see AJ vs. Fury this summer,” Hearn said. “But if Fury truly isn’t enjoying boxing anymore, then retirement might be real.”
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
Rising lightweight star Derrick Quaye, also known as “Show Love,” has been ranked among Ghana’s top 10 pound-for-pound boxers as of January 2025. The talented fighter, who boasts an impressive record of 6-0-1, gained widespread recognition after delivering a spectacular knockout against Michael Ansah, aka “One Bullet,” in a thrilling bout organized by Box Office Promotions at the Bukom Boxing Arena. Quaye’s exceptional skills and potential make him a key figure in the future of Ghanaian boxing.
Kudos also go to Daniel Selassi Gorsh, who has maintained the top spot on the pound-for-pound list for three consecutive months. Other notable names in the rankings include John “Expensive Boxer” Laryea, Stanley Nyantekyi (“Ashanti Warrior”), Holy Dogbetoraka Jaw Breaker, and Faisal “Poncho Power” Abubakar. Completing the top 10 are Seth Gyimah (“Freezy Macbones”), Jacob Tetteh Laryea (“The Chorkor Fire”), and Sheriff Quaye (“One Time”).
Boxing Ghana determines its rankings based on key factors such as activeness, performance, discipline, media appeal, and commitment.
The Boxing Ghana Awards ceremony, recognizing the best contributors to Ghanaian boxing—including boxers, coaches, referees, promoters, and more—will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Stay tuned for updates on this highly anticipated event.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
The welterweight division in Ghana continues to spark debates among boxing fans and analysts. On November 24, 2025, Sampson Segbedzi (9-0) from Ashaiman claimed the national welterweight title after Isaac Commey of Chorkor was disqualified for headbutting. Following the bout, Commey faced sanctions from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
Since winning the title, Segbedzi has received numerous challenges from top contenders. Currently, Henry Malm (9-0), who represented Ghana at the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers and the 2023 African Games, leads the BoxRec rankings as the best welterweight boxer in Ghana, with Segbedzi closely trailing in second place.
Other top-ranked contenders include Habib Kehinde Giwa (3rd), Maxwell Awuku (4th), Fred Lawson (5th), Jessie Lartey (6th), Thompson Fosu (7th), Philip Quartey (8th), and Abdul Aziz Quartey (9th).
Fans are eagerly calling for a showdown between Segbedzi and Malm to settle the debate on who the true king of the welterweight division is. In response, Segbedzi expressed his readiness to face Malm if the financial terms are right. “I am the king of the welterweights, and I don’t fear anyone. If the money is good, we have a fight,” he stated.
The stage is set for a potential blockbuster fight that could define the future of Ghanaian boxing.
