Ajagba, 20-1-1 with 14 knockouts, rebuilt his record through rounds and discipline. Five straight wins before the Bakole majority draw, fights where he started with the jab and set the pace from the opening bell. He fights long behind a firm, active jab, keeps his chin tucked and sets his feet back to the straight right. When he maintains his structure and works behind the jab, he controls distance and makes heavyweights reach and miss.
He cannot lose concentration for a single round.
Against Bakole, he had stretches where the pitching went soft and the exchanges got mixed up. Judges with this weight look for effective aggression, clean hitting, who pushes the action. If Ajagba gives away rounds by circling without scoring, he again puts himself at the mercy of three cards.
Martin, 30-4-1 with 27 knockouts, is an old-school southpaw puncher. Wide stance. Straight left of center. He works the body when he plants his feet and he will release his hands when you stand in front of him. He almost folded Jared Anderson with those left in 2023. The power is still there.
The question is the legs.
Fifteen months out at 39 appears after round six. The wind is getting shorter. The legs stop moving. A veteran starts with shots instead of walking in behind them. If Martin can’t cut the rim, get his front foot outside and cover distance with purpose, he will spend long stretches trying to follow Ajagba behind the stick.
The tactics are clear.
Ajagba must start the sting and keep it busy. Double it and then bring the straight right behind it. Keep Martin turning clockwise, away from that left hand. When he finishes combinations, he should reset his feet and keep his right glove at home. Martin will hunt that counter all night.
As Ajagba charges up and jabs straight, Martin’s straight left and short right hook await from the pivot. Southpaws live on that mistake. One clean shot at this weight changes everything.
This battle is about discipline and conditioning. Ajagba at 31 should have the stronger conditioning and steadier pace. Martin will try to drag him into exchanges and make it physical along the ropes.
If Ajagba controls distance with the jab and avoids trading, he wins rounds cleanly and pulls away late. If he stands and trades, he gives a seasoned puncher the exact fight he wants.
Sunday will show whether Ajagba is a tall heavyweight with a good jab or a contender ready to push for a belt.
Zuffa Boxing 3: Ajagba vs. Martin – Sunday 15 February 2026
- Location: Meta Apex, Las Vegas, NV
- Promoter: Dana White – Zuffa Boxing
- Media: Exclusive on Paramount+
- Time: Main card begins at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin card
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin, heavyweight
Umar Dzambekov vs Ahmed El Biali, light heavyweight
Abel Mejia vs Jaybrio Pe Benito, lightweight
Leo Ruiz vs. Casey Streeter, middleweight
Antonio Woods vs. Mark Bueke, middleweight
Oswaldo Molina vs. Joshua Clark, lightweight
Emiliano Alvarado vs. Devin Gantt, super bantamweight
Dariial Kuchmenov vs. Jorge Lagunas, lightweight
