Efe Ajagba says his upcoming fight with Charles Martin carries a different meaning because he believes Martin has already turned down a chance to face him once. Ajagba claims the two were supposed to spar last year, but Martin refused, and that decision stuck with him as their paths eventually led to an official fight.
Ajagba said he reached out while in camp looking for work down south, hoping to bring Martin in for rounds. He expected the kind of cooperation fighters often provide each other behind closed doors. Instead, Ajagba said Martin showed no interest unless Ajagba was specifically preparing for a left-handed opponent.
“We were supposed to save last year and he refused,” Ajagba said Ring Magazine. “He said if I fight a southpaw, let him know. I said, ‘I’m not fighting a southpaw, but (we can spar).’ And he refused. He didn’t want to spar. He knows it. But here we are – he wants to fight me in a real fight. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m glad you took the fight.’ I was surprised.”
Ajagba never forgot the exchange, and the fight now gives him the opportunity to settle something he believes was left unfinished. Sparring often answers questions before fight night arrives. Ajagba believes these questions will now be fully answered.
Ajagba then steps in after a majority draw against Martin Bakole last May, a tough fight that kept him in the contender’s bracket and boosted his confidence in his ability to compete at that level. He stayed active and positioned himself for opportunities like this.
Martin returns at 39 after fighting once in the last 31 months. The former IBF heavyweight champion has shared the ring with Anthony Joshua, Luis Ortiz and Jared Anderson, giving him experience against elite opponents even as his activity has slowed.
The fight headlines a Zuffa Boxing card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on Paramount+. Ajagba enters as the favourite, but his focus reflects something more personal as he prepares to face an opponent he apparently chose not to face when given the chance.
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Last updated on 13/02/2026
