Afolabi began his professional career in 2002, fighting at super middleweight and light heavyweight. In 2003 he was outpointed by Allan Green, prompting a full-time move to cruiserweight in 2004. He beat a small heavyweight clubfighter in Willie Chapman and added James Walton and Michael Simms to his victims. He also knocked out former Cruiserweight Champ Orlin Norris.

The win that put him into the limelight came over undefeated highly touted Golden Gloves champion Eric Fields whom he KO’ed in 2008. He was immediately signed to a promotional contract with Duva Boxing. Afolabi subsequently made his national television debut on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, winning a unanimous decision over DeLeon Tinsley.

In March 2009 he scored another upset KO by defeating former WBO World Cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli to win the Interim WBO cruiserweight title in Manchester, England.

After defeating 2 journeymen, Afolabi got a rematch against Huck on 5 May 2012, for Huck’s WBO Cruiserweight championship, which would be in Germany as in their first match. In their previous bout, it was a very close fight ending with Huck escaping with a razor-thin majority decision victory. However, in the rematch, it was even closer than the first bout, with a brutal 12 rounds in a great fight. Unfortunately for Afolabi, the fight ended in a split draw, and Huck retained his WBO belt.