Efe Ajagba has claimed he almost knocked out Tyson Fury in sparring, as the latter pursues a fresh opponent amid complex talks over a fight with Anthony Joshua.
Fury and Joshua signed to fight one another this year, but a contract dispute has arisen, with Joshua’s deal dictating that the bout must take place in the UK, while Fury’s contract is more flexible.
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Fury and other key figures have been pushing for a 20 November date in New York City, while “AJ” digs in his heels in pursuit of a Wembley showdown.
Tyson Fury before his win over Mariusz Wach in July (Getty)
As a result, 38-year-old Fury has begun calling out different opponents, including former rival Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel, and Filip Hrgovic.
Over the years, Fury has sparred Ajagba numerous times, and the Nigerian heavyweight was asked this week about his experiences with the British star.
“I almost knocked him out in sparring,” Ajagba claimed, while speaking to FightHype. “Everybody knows that, he knows. I have video proof.
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“I have a video on my phone, but I don’t want to post it. If Tyson Fury talks trash, then I will post it, but he doesn’t say anything, so I don’t have to put it up.
“If the fight happens and he starts talking trash, then that’s when I will put the video out. Tyson Fury said ‘no videos’, but I wanted to watch it back to learn, so that’s why I have a video – not so I could post it on social media.”
Ajagba, 32, holds a professional record of 21-1-1 (15 KOs), with his only slip-ups being a points loss to Frank Sanchez and a draw with Martin Bakole.
Efe Ajagba (left) during his draw with Martin Bakole (Getty)
The loss to Sanchez occurred in 2021, while the draw with Bakole came last May. Ajagba has fought just once since then, stopping Charles Martin in February.
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Ajagba, who beat the former world champion in four rounds, added this week: “I want to fight Tyson Fury, Usyk, Agit Kabayel, Filip Hrgovic – anyone in the top 10.”
Usyk was unified heavyweight champion until this summer, when he gave up his belts ahead of a planned retirement fight. Kabayel was thus elevated to WBC champion, before Hrgovic shocked Moses Itauma in August to win the vacant IBF belt.
The WBA title is held by Murat Gassiev, while Daniel Dubois won the WBO strap in May by beating Fabio Wardley, whom he will face again in October.
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