Raphael Akpejiori

Raphael Akpejiori is a Nigerian professional boxer competing in the heavyweight division.
Raphael Akpejiori 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. Growing up in a vibrant and supportive family, Raphael Akpejiori developed a passion for sports and education. His father, Pius, was a player for New Nigeria Bank Football Club, and his mother a track and field sprinter competing for Edo State. In 2008, at the age of 17, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, 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, showcasing his dedication to academics alongside his athletic career. Known for his athletic prowess and academic achievements, Akpejiori has successfully balanced his sporting career with a strong background in engineering.
Akpejiori had a brief amateur career, compiling a record of 13–1 (10 KOs). He was invited by the Nigerian Boxing Federation to compete for Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as a super-heavyweight.
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 (TKO) 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 (KO) 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..Akpejiori faced Gary Kelly in his seventh professional fight on August 22, 2020, which he won by a second-round technical knockout. On November 7, 2020, Akpejiori beat Jared Torgeson by a second-round technical knockout. Akpejiori was scheduled to face Joshua Tuani On January 23, 2021 and won his first fight of 2021 by a first round knockout. Akpejiori then improved to 10-0 after beating Curtis Head on April 21, 2021 and once again won by a first-round knockout.
Akpejiori beat Brandon Spencer by a second-round technical knockout on June 11, 2021. Akpejiori then faced Steven Lyons on July 10, 2021, and won by a first-round technical knockout. On November 6, 2021, he faced Satander Silgado Gelez and won by a first-round technical knockout. 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 knockout.
Akpejiori was scheduled to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov at in Toledo, Ohio on July 1, 2023 for the WBC-NABF heavyweight title. Akpejiori lost the fight by TKO in the second round.
In November 2023, Akpejiori married basketball player and NBA analyst Chiney Ogwumike.