It took just 23 seconds for Nigeria’s sole representative in the boxing event at the ongoing Olympic Games, Efe Ajagba to knockout his Trinidad & Tobago opponent Nigel Paul.
Ajagba, who was fighting in the Super Heavyweight 91kg category, outclassed his opponent in round one, and after 2 minutes 27 second he sent Paul crashing.
The 22-year-old, who won gold in the 2015 All African Games, showed a high level of confidence to show why he is being tipped as one of Nigeria’s medal prospect.
The victory qualified Ajagba for the quarter final where he would face a tougher challenge against Ivan Dychko from Kazakhstan on Tuesday, August 16.
After his victory against the Trinidad and Tobago boxer, many Nigerians have took to social media to express their excitement on the prospect of Team Nigerian bagging a gold medal in the boxing event.
Some have described Ajagba’s victory in less than three minutes into the first round as being weird because of all the fights before this, nobody won by a knockout except the Nigerian.
Below are some of the comments on Twitter:
All it took Efe Ajagba of #NGR was about 23 secs to finish the job ???? #Boxing #OlympicGames #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/RjKxzXIofn
— DaddyMOSneh (@officialdaddymo) August 14, 2016
Efe Ajagba, our boxing representative at the Olympics. We know what you did. Aluwo toh bad! But show them still. Do us proud. #Rio2016
— Kanmi Adebowale (@MrMiagi9ja) August 14, 2016
The story of Nigerians. Against all odds; even when the #NGR system fails you over&over again. Efe Ajagba #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/L4XERWVROb
— Dolapo Aina (@DolapoAina) August 14, 2016
Imagine getting Efe Ajagba angry in a corner with no means of escape. If a boxer could fall that way, you are gonna need medical treatment.
— THE GREATEST (@Messi_less) August 14, 2016
Efe Ajagba should crush every opponent on his way to get that #Gold #Boxing ???
— Cute Goddess ❤ (@AmazingGoddess1) August 14, 2016
As Efe Ajagba knocked out his opponent in round one, Nigerians are expecting @MBuhari to knock-out sports minister, Solomon Dalung, ASAP
— Eniola Opeyemi (@eniola_opeyemi) August 14, 2016
“It caught me really well,” Paul said after the race in a surprisingly sprightly interview with the media after his fight.
“I started off a little slow,” the 27-year-old said, “The game plan was to come out hard and come out swinging.
“I kind of started off with a couple bad shots. He caught me with a couple early.
I had the chance to capitalise on that and answer back but unfortunately I made a rookie mistake by keeping my guard a little low and he caught me with a right hand. I was looking out for the right and trained to defend against the right and that’s what got me down. I guess it’s the rookie in me,” he said.
Asked what passed through his mind as he lay dazed on the mat, Paul said he knew he his coach Floyd Trumpet would be unhappy as they had identified the Nigerian’s powerful right punch as a threat from early.
