Raphael Akpejiori


Raphael Akpejiori is a Nigerian professional boxer competing in the heavyweight division.

Early life

Raphael Akpejiori was born on 10 October 1990 in Lagos, Nigeria to Pius and Clara Akpejiori, and grew up in the Surulere area of the city. He was raised alongside his five siblings – Okhiaofe, Ilamosi, Eshemokha, Ideoghena, and Eboshogwe – and developed a passion for sports and education. His father, Pius, was a player for New Nigerian Bank Football Club, and his mother was a sprinter competing for Edo State.
In 2008, at the age of 17, he moved to Bel Aire, Kansas, United States, on a basketball scholarship, where he attended Sunrise Christian Academy. Two years later, in 2010, he was recruited by the University of Miami, where he played as a forward for the university's basketball team for four seasons. During his graduate studies, he transitioned to American football in 2014 and earned an invitation to the Miami Dolphins' training camp in 2015.
Akpejiori holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Amateur career

Akpejiori had a brief amateur career, compiling a record of 13–1. He was invited by the Nigerian Boxing Federation to compete for Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as a super-heavyweight.

Professional career

Trained by former world champion Glen Johnson, Akpejiori signed with CES Boxing and made his professional debut on 14 September 2018, scoring a first-round technical knockout victory over Omar Acosta at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Following another first-round TKO win over James Advincola in November, Akpejiori scored three more first-round stoppage wins in 2019; a knockout over Leo Cassiani in June; and TKOs over Johan Lopez in July and Jose Pulido in August. Akpejiori's first fight of 2020 was a second-round TKO win against Mike Ford in January. He faced Gary Kelly in his seventh professional fight on August 22, 2020, which he won by a second-round TKO. On November 7, 2020, he beat Jared Torgeson by a second-round TKO. Akpejiori faced Joshua Tuani on January 23, 2021 and won by a first round KO. He then extended his winning record to 10-0 after beating Curtis Head on April 21, 2021, again winning by a first-round KO.
Akpejiori beat Brandon Spencer by a second-round TKO on June 11, 2021. He then faced Steven Lyons on July 10, 2021, and won by a first-round TKO. On November 6, 2021, he faced Satander Silgado Gelez and won by a first-round TKO. On June 11, 2022, Akpejiori faced Terrell Jamal Woods. it was the first time in this career the Nigerian fought past the second round, winning by unanimous decision. On January 21, 2021, Akpejiori faced Dell Long and won by another first-round KO.
Akpejiori then challenged Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov for his WBC-NABF heavyweight title at Toledo, Ohio on July 1, 2023. Akpejiori lost the fight by TKO in the second round after being dropped three times.

Personal life

In November 2023, Akpejiori married basketball player and NBA analyst Chiney Ogwumike.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
19Win18-1Alexis GarciaTKO6, 3:0028 Jun 2024Pabellon de Esgrima, Centro Olimpico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
18Win17-1Santander Silgado GelezTKO1, 2:591 Mar 2024Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.
17Win16-1Francisco Silvens MateoKO1, 2:199 Feb 2024Coco Locos Restaurant Sports Bar, Sosua, Dominican Republic
16Loss15–1Arslanbek MakhmudovTKO2, 1:431 Jul 2023Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.For WBC-NABF heavyweight title
15Win15–0Dell LongTKO1, 1:4821 Jan 2023Calta’s Fitness & Boxing, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
14Win14–0Terrell Jamal Woods811 Jun 2022Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
13Win13–0Santander SilgadoTKO1, 1:306 Nov 2021Miami Airport Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.
12Win12–0Steven LyonsTKO1, 2:5910 Jul 2021Miami Airport Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.
11Win11–0Brandon SpencerTKO2, 1:4211 Jun 2021Avanti Palms Resort, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
10Win10–0Curtis HeadTKO1, 2:2124 Apr 20211500 Grand Central Ave, Vienna, West Virginia, U.S.
9Win9–0Joshua TuaniKO1, 2:4623 Jan 2021Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater, Miramar, Florida, U.S.
8Win8–0Jared TorgesonTKO2, 1:367 Nov 2020Bonita Springs Elks Lodge, Bonita Springs, Florida, U.S.
7Win7–0Gary KellyTKO2, 2:0222 Aug 2020Bonita Springs Elks Lodge, Bonita Springs, Florida, U.S.
6Win6–0Mike FordTKO2, 0:4717 Jan 2020Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.
5Win5–0Jose PulidoTKO2, 1:4017 Aug 2019Plaza Principal de Pacho, Pacho, Colombia
4Win4–0Johan LopezTKO1, 2:5926 Jul 2019Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
3Win3–0Leo Cassiani1, 2:4515 Jun 2019Parque Central, Tolú, Colombia
2Win2–0James AdvincolaTKO1, 0:4921 Nov 2018Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
1Win1–0Omar Acosta1, 0:5914 Sep 2018Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.