World Boxing Council silver title holder, Efe Ajagba, and former unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, are on a collision course for the WBC main title following the former’s second successive title defence, According Sports Extra reports.
Both of Nigerian descent, Ajagba and Joshua enjoyed three-fight win streaks in 2023 and have also won their first bouts in 2024.
British-Nigerian Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in March to get his 2024 off to a winning start and earn the number one ranking on the WBC charts, where Tyson Fury is the champion.
Meanwhile, Delta-born Ajagba triumphed over fellow Olympian and long-time sparring partner Italian Guido Vianello with a split decision victory on Saturday.
The result has seen the ‘Silent Roller’ move closer to a world title shot as he is now ranked fourth in the WBC chart, above Deontay Wilder in seventh, Filip Hrgovic in eighth and Zhilei Zhang in ninth.
These three are the ones touted as Joshua’s next opponents as the boxing world awaits the result of Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed bout on May 18.
However, the two champions have agreed to a rematch after the bout and following both bouts, the WBC is expected to hold a clash among the top contenders to determine who will face Fury or Usyk following the bouts for the main title.
Ajagba and Joshua have been the most active boxers in the top 10 ranked boxers and the number one-ranked fighter and silver title holder are expected to meet for the chance to fight for the WBC title.
Ajagba previously stated his desire to join Samuel Peter as the only Nigerian boxer to hold a world heavyweight title.
“I am focused on my quest to become Nigeria’s next heavyweight champion,” Ajagba said in August 2023, ahead of his fight for the WBC silver
title.
