The straight right was the weapon, thrown tight and straight down the pipe, full weight behind it. This is how heavyweights close the show.
At the press conference, he did not soften his stance or dance around names.
“It doesn’t matter. Usyk, Tyson Fury, Wilder, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m willing to fight anyone in the top ten.”
This is the correct call for a knockout. You ask for men who can fight back and sit in the top ten.
Since the 2021 loss to Frank Sanchez, Ajagba has rebuilt with five wins and a draw against Martin Bakole who has scored a lot in the boxing scene his way. The Bakole fight showed where he still needs work. When push came to shove, his combos narrowed and his stamina slowly dropped. Against Martin, he stayed longer behind the jab, forced exchanges when he was set up, and let the right hand go just as the guard split.
More composed. Better punch discipline.
The business side is less tidy. Dana White wants his Zuffa belt to be placed as the top belt and has little patience for the alphabet bodies. Usyk still holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts. Those organizations keep the rankings and call the commitments, whether anyone likes it or not.
If Ajagba wants Usyk, Fury or Wilder, contracts and broadcast dates must line up. Fury is penciled in to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov. Wilder has Derek Chisora ​​ahead of him.
Ties move when obligations are satisfied and money is agreed upon. Until Zuffa gets one of the established names in the ring, his band runs alongside the current order.
Ajagba’s work is technical. Sharpen the work inside. Keep the counters tight when backed up to the ropes. Show that his conditioning lasts more than twelve hard rounds with a steady jab and layered combinations. Against Martin, the right hand was enough. Against Usyk or Fury, he would need ring positioning, punch variety and the discipline to work the body before head hunting.
Right now, he’s a dangerous puncher with momentum.
Against top heavyweights, he will need to show he can set the pace, take a shot and keep his feet under him when the return fire comes hard.
