Ajagba, 20-1-1 with 14 knockouts, rebuilt his record with rounds and discipline. Five straight wins before Bakole’s majority draw, fights in which he started with a jab and set the pace from the opening bell. He fights high behind a powerful, energetic jab, keeps his chin tucked and plants his feet on a straight right. When he maintains his structure and works behind the jab, he controls the range and causes heavyweights to reach and miss.
He cannot lose concentration for one round.
In the match against Bakole, he had moments where the push was tender and the exchanges were tumultuous. Judges at this weight are looking for effective aggression, a spotless strike, and someone who presses the action. If Ajagba concedes the rounds, lapping without scoring points, he will once again be at the mercy of three cards.
Martin, with a record of 30-4-1 and 27 knockouts, is an old-school southpaw puncher. Wide stance. Straight left, in the middle. He works his body when he puts his feet down and his hands will drop if you stand in front of him. He almost folded Jared Anderson with 2023 remaining. The power is still there.
The question is about the legs.
Fifteen months off at the age of 39 comes after the sixth round. The wind is shortening. The legs stop moving. The veteran starts kicking shots instead of stepping in behind them. If Martin can’t cut across the ring, get his lead foot outside and purposely close the gap, he will spend long periods of time trying to track Ajagba behind the jab.
The tactics are clear.
Ajagba needs to start attacking and stay fit. Double it and then make a straight line right behind it. Keep Martin spinning clockwise away from your left hand. When he finishes his combination, he must reset his feet and keep his right glove in place. Martin will be hunting this counter all night long.
If Ajagba loads up and squares up, a straight left hook from Martin and a low right hook from Martin on the pivot await. Southpaws live off this mistake. One spotless shot at this weight changes everything.
This fight is all about discipline and conditioning. At the age of 31, Ajagba should be in better shape and have a more stable pace. Martin will try to involve him in exchanges and make it physically possible.
If Ajagba controls the range with his jab and avoids trading, he wins the rounds cleanly and retreats behind schedule. If he stands up and makes the deal, he will give the experienced boxer exactly the fight he wants.
Sunday will show whether Ajagba is a high heavyweight with a good jab or a contender ready to fight for the belt.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Efe Ajagba poses on the scales during his Zuffa Boxing 03 fight at Meta APEX on February 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin pose after the weigh-in for their Zuffa Boxing 03 fight at Meta APEX on February 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin pose after the weigh-in for their Zuffa Boxing 03 fight at Meta APEX on February 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 14: Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin pose after the weigh-in for their Zuffa Boxing 03 fight at Meta APEX on February 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
Zuffa Boxing 3: Ajagba vs. Martin – Sunday, February 15, 2026
Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin Umar Dzambekov vs. Ahmed El Biali, featherlight heavyweight fight Abel Mejia vs. Jaybrio Pe Benito, featherlight Leo Ruiz vs. Casey Streeter, center
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
Britain has produced some great heavyweights in recent years, ending an almost century-long curse and seeing success in the division ever since. Predicting the outcome of the clash between two of the best fighters in the country, Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr said it would be a “great fight”.
Bob Fitzsimmons became the first British world heavyweight champion in 1897, and he and Jones remain the only two fighters in boxing history to have won both middleweight and heavyweight world titles.
However, Great Britain struggled for success in the division after the Fitzsimmons fight, unable to claim heavyweight supremacy until Lennox Lewis became WBC world champion in 1992. Britain has since crowned its title 11th world heavyweight championFabio Wardley, who follows in the footsteps of Fury and Anthony Joshua.
In an interview with Grosvenor CasinoJones said he would give Lewis an advantage over the “Gypsy King” if they met in their prime.
“Tyson Fury vs. Lennox Lewis? That would be a great fight, but my first thought was Lennox Lewis because of his power. But my second thought was also that Tyson Fury was great at making adjustments. I would go with Lennox Lewis.”
At least one heavyweight world title is expected to remain in a Briton’s hands for some time, with Daniel Dubois scheduled to face another Briton, Fabio Wardley, for the WBO belt next month.
In the meantime, we hope 21-year-old Moses Itauma can continue Britain’s success for many years to come, with the youngster considered by many to be the hottest prospect in boxing.
As for Fury, he is focused on the UK-wide megafight with Joshua – their own ‘Battle of Britain’ after Lennox fought Frank Bruno in 1993.
“Derrick James, he started getting a little more players and a little more buzz, and I feel like our communication has changed,” Charlo told Brian Custer.
Charlo said that as James built a larger stable, there was less hands-on time spent with him and more trying to control the gym environment. He claimed that James wanted things done his way, including telling players to remove dogs from the gym during training sessions and changing the atmosphere that helped build their success.
Charlo has been out of the ring since his loss to Saul Alvarez in 2023, and James recently split from Errol Spence Jr. A coach once considered one of the safest hands in the sport is suddenly facing public criticism from two of his biggest names.
“He wanted it his way,” Charlo said. “Coach needs us. Don’t overdo it, coach. Serene down, coach. I was your first champion.”
He also pointed to his camp leading up to the Alvarez fight, saying the support around him wasn’t the same when he needed it most.
“You don’t enter into a world title fight like that,” Charlo said.
Charlo still believes he can regain his spot in the junior middleweight division, and talks about a possible fight with Sebastian Fundora are ongoing later this year. His confidence hasn’t changed, but his patience with ancient alliances has noticeably changed. Sometimes a rift begins when success changes the room.
However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.
I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.
“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.
“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.
“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.
“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”
It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.
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