Since 2014, Martin Bakole has quietly built an impressive record of 21-2 with 16 KOs. But it wasn’t until last year that he began landing spots on undercards of huge events and began receiving the recognition that he deserved. However, in February, Bakole stepped in on just two days’ notice to face Joseph Parker after Daniel Dubois withdrew due to a viral infection. Fighting as a last-minute replacement on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch in Riyadh, Bakole suffered his second career loss to the Kiwi(the first dating back to 2018 against Michael Hunter). But, he had already received a guarantee from His Excellency Turki Alalshikh that the outcome of his Parker bout would not affect his mega clash with another African heavyweight star.

So now, more than two months later, the Kananga-born heavyweight returns to the ring for a scheduled 12-rounder against Efe Ajagba, on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull bout tonight. At the official weigh-in, Bakole came in at 299 lbs, significantly heavier than Ajagba’s 240 lbs. While Bakole has the size disadvantage, Ajagba is coming off a split-decision win over Guido Vianello last year. It remains to be seen how he’ll handle Bakole’s pressure. But before the action unfolds, let’s take a look at how much each fighter is earning for tonight’s showdown and who’s the wealthier fighter between the two.

What is Martin Bakole’s Net Worth in 2025?

There seems to be a general consensus on Martin Bakole’s net worth. According to both Sporty Salaries and Tanzania-based outlet Mabumbe, the Kananga-born heavyweight is estimated to be worth between $1.5 and $2 million. Since turning pro on March 25, 2014, Martin Bakole has stepped into the ring 23 times. While the financial details of his early career remain a bit unclear, records start to become more consistent from around 2017. When he defeated Ali Baghouz in 1st round KO for the IBO Continental heavyweight title, Sporty Salaries reports Martin Bakole earned around $7,000 for the fight.

It wasn’t until 2020 that he saw his first six-figure payday—a whopping $125,000 for a clash with Russian contender Sergey Kuzmin, with the WBC International heavyweight title on the line. In 2023, during his Riyadh Season debut, Bakole took on Ihor Shevadzutskyi and Carlos Takam, netting a combined $225,000. But his biggest payday at the time came in for his 5th-round KO victory against Jared Anderson in August 2024, where he reportedly pocketed $375,000.

As for the recent bout against Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole is believed to have earned a solid £475,000 ($600,000) for stepping in on short notice. Parker, of course, commanded the bigger purse, around £1.58m ($2m). The 33-year-old was stopped just 5 minutes and 17 seconds into the fight, which, when broken down, translates to roughly £1,498.42 ($1,892.74) per second earned. Now, heading into his clash with Nigerian Efe Ajagba, NetWorthReported suggests Martin Bakole is set to take home another career-high purse of $750,000.

What is Efe Ajagba’s net worth in 2025?

Efe Ajagba, the hard-hitting Nigerian heavyweight, is aiming to reignite his career with a strong comeback. After making his professional debut in 2017 against Tyrell Herndon, the 31-year-old remained undefeated until October 9, 2021, when he faced Frank Sánchez, the man who snapped his winning streak. Despite that setback, Ajagba has remained one of the most recognized and highest-paid boxers from Africa, reportedly earning over $500,000 per fight.

Back in 2021, TSMPlug estimated Efe Ajagba’s net worth at around $1.8 million, factoring in notable purses from bouts against Jonathan Rice, Brian Howard, and Frank Sánchez. By 2023, SportsMaza raised that estimate to $2.5 million, highlighting $800,000 in endorsement deals as a major contributor. Meanwhile, Front Office Sports listed the 20-1 boxer among the top-earning heavyweights, pegging his net worth closer to $2 million.

As of 2025, Efe Ajagba’s net worth is again reported to be in the range of $1.8 million, a total that includes guaranteed fight purses, sponsorships, and a share of pay-per-view revenue. For his upcoming clash with Martin Bakole, Sporty Salaries reports Ajagba is set to earn more than $700,000—marking one of the biggest paydays of his career to date.

Who is the richer boxer in 2025: Martin Bakole or Efe Ajagba?

When it comes to net worth in 2025, the margin between Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba is razor-thin. But there is a slight edge. Though the Nigerian has enjoyed bigger endorsement deals in recent years, Martin Bakole’s recent paydays have kept his numbers higher of the two.

So while Efe Ajagba may have held the richer title a couple of years ago, Martin Bakole’s recent activity and improved payouts may have leveled the playing field or possibly even tilted it in his favor. In short, Martin Bakole might just be the wealthier of the two at the moment.

With that said, who do you see winning tonight? Efe Ajagba or Martin Bakole?