HOW VISA AND PASSPORT ISSUES DASH EFE AJAGBA'S BOUT WITH ZHILEI ZHANG

Professional boxing is often as much about navigating administrative hurdles as training and competing in the ring. One such setback recently befell WBC Silver heavyweight champion Efe Ajagba, who could not participate in a proposed bout against Chinese former WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang at the Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua undercard. The culprit? Visa and passport issues. 

The match between Ajagba and Zhang promised to be a tantalizing showdown between two heavyweight contenders hungry for glory. Both athletes boast impressive records and have the skills and determination to make waves in boxing. However, despite the anticipation surrounding the bout, fate had other plans. 
Speaking exclusively to ASNSportsTV.Net, Ajagba said he was billed to fight the former WBO Interim champion, Zhang, in Saudi Arabia, but visa and passport hurdles scuttled that hope.  
"I was supposed to fight Zhang, but the way they planned it, my visa did not come out early, so I missed out. But now I am working on my US citizenship, which is being processed, and we await the approval of the United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS)." 

Nevertheless, visa and passport issues can prove highly disruptive, as for Ajagba. Such problems can arise for various reasons, including bureaucratic delays, incomplete paperwork, or unforeseen complications in the visa application process. 
Ajagba, who hails from Ughelli in Delta state, Nigeria, but trains and competes internationally from his base in Houston, Texas, said securing the necessary travel documents is essential as he looks forward to becoming a US citizen. According to him, this is a process, and he awaits approval from USCIS. 
In his upcoming fight against Guido 

Despite the disappointment, Ajagba remains undeterred. His resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to his character and determination to overcome obstacles in pursuit of his goals. While the missed bout with Zhang may have been a setback, Ajagba regroups and looks ahead to future opportunities; he will face off with Italian heavyweight and former sparring partner Guido Vianello on April 13th at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Ajagba said he was surprised that the Italian chose to fight him, considering their relationship as sparring partners. 
"Guido and I were sparring partners; I even sparred with him when I was preparing g for the fight against Joe Goddall in Las Vegas; it was Guido who told Top rank boxing promotions that he wanted to fight me; even my coach was surprised that Guido wanted this fight, he felt that having sparred with me, he knows how to work on me, but even when we spar, I will beat him up, so out of nowhere he said he wants this fight with me, all I wanted is a championship fight, I took the fight, and I don't want to underestimate him but he has a game plan, just as I have a game plan, every fighter has a game."  

Efe Ajagba, nicknamed the Silent Roller, stated his readiness for the April 13th bout. 
"I will be ready. I'm in camp here, sparring with great partners. I will adjust as the fight progresses depending on Guido's way and technique." 
On A chance for a World title fight 
Efe Ajagba said that the missed fight with Former WBO Interim
heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia at the Ngannou/AJ undercard was the fight to herald a chance for a world title fight, but he is working with his team to see what is next after this fight.  
Ajagba stopped Aussie Joe Goodall in the 4th round in Tahoe, Nevada