Bob Ajisafe

Bob “Lionheart” Ajisafe was a British light heavyweight who also operated on the edge of the cruiserweight division, a rangy southpaw from Nottingham who made his home base in Leeds. Born on 13 April 1985 and standing 6ft 2in, Ajisafe boxed with the natural angles of a left-hander, patient rather than flashy, content to let a fight breathe before stepping in with the straight shots and the heavy left that did most of his serious work. He retired with a professional record of 19 wins and 4 losses, 9 of the victories coming by knockout.

Ajisafe’s professional career started the hard way, through the small halls and then into domestic titles. Ajisafe turned professional on 18 November 2007 and won his first six bouts. In 2009, he took a run at the Prizefighter tournament and was edged out in the quarter final by Carl Dilks over the three-round distance, the sort of frantic format that can turn on one swing. That same year, wins over Ovill McKenzie and Phil Goodwin moved him towards bigger assignments, and in September 2010, he challenged Tony Bellew for the Commonwealth light heavyweight title in London. Bellew won a unanimous decision over twelve, but Ajisafe had the moment that made people take a second look, putting Bellew down in the fourth round and showing he could sting at that level.

The next phase was about picking up belts and learning how to win when the rounds got longer. In July 2011, Ajisafe boxed Darren Stubbs for the vacant English light heavyweight title and took it when a cut forced a stoppage, then defended the strap against the unbeaten Travis Dickinson in Sheffield in December 2012. Those fights were typical of his route, a steady climb through domestic opposition, building experience, learning how to manage a contest with a lead hand, an awkward stance and a body that could lean and tie you up when you were trying to rush.

His peak came in 2014 and 2015, when the titles were no longer regional; they defined the British scene. In March 2014, he met Dean Francis for the vacant British light heavyweight title in Reading and won a clear unanimous decision over twelve rounds, a disciplined performance against a proven finisher. Later that year, he beat Matty Clarkson to win the MaxiNutrition Knockout Trophy, then in June 2015, he stopped Daniel Wanyonyi in the fourth to win the Commonwealth light heavyweight title. By that point, Ajisafe had done what many good operators never manage: he had collected the Lonsdale Belt and the Commonwealth crown and established himself as a champion rather than a contender.

The world level proved a harder border to cross, but he had the fight. In May 2016, Ajisafe travelled to Moscow to challenge Umar Salamov for the IBO light heavyweight title, but lost a unanimous decision over 12 rounds. He boxed on in spurts after that, picking up wins in Leeds, Manchester and Oldham, then signed off in the MTK Golden Contract quarter final on 14 December 2019 against Hosea Burton in Brentwood. It was a difficult last night, Burton scoring a knockdown inside the opening seconds and running away with a wide decision, and Ajisafe retired with the record of a man who got plenty out of his talent, British champion, Commonwealth champion, and always an awkward night for anyone who did not like the look of a tall southpaw with timing and a stubborn streak.