Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin Keys to Victory: How the former rival of Anthony Joshua can win

Efe Ajagba can use Sunday night to make a big splash in the heavyweight division.

That is when the Nigerian fighter will clash with former world champion Charles Martin as part of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In his sole action of 2025, Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs) battled Martin Bakole to a majority draw, but many watching felt like the former did enough to have his hand raised in the May bout. To get back to his winning ways, Ajagba will need to get past Martin (30-4-1, 27 KOs) who delivered a first-round KO of Matthew McKinney in November 2024, but did not see action last year.

Will Ajagba inch himself closer to the world title picture at heavyweight? Or will Martin have enough left to produce the upset? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both heavyweights.

Efe Ajagaba’s Keys to Victory

Work behind the jab early

Considering he has a five-inch reach advantage, Efe Ajagba must assert the jab and work behind it in outpointing or stopping Charles Martin.

Ajagba finding a home with his jab will allow him to dictate the pace of this fight.

Beat Martin to the punch with hand speed

Martin is susceptible to a big right hand whether it comes in the form of a straight shot or hook. At 39, the former heavyweight world champion just does not have the hand speed to match quickness with Ajagba.

Therefore, Ajagba must recognize his opponent’s deficiency and piece together quick one-two combinations against Martin. Once that jab is established, Ajagba whipping that right hand to the temple or detonating it on the chin could spell lights out for even a durable Martin.

Do not get goaded into a slugfest

Ajagba has the tools to outbox Martin by banking rounds behind the jab or flat out overwhelming him with hand speed and efficient punches.

What he cannot afford to do is get goaded into a slugfest in the phone booth. That could slow down the fight and haul it into the trenches where Martin would improve his chances for an upset

Charles Martin’s Keys to Victory

Get inside of Ajagba’s jab

Charles Martin cannot allow himself to get outpointed on the outside by Efe Ajagba’s prodding jab.

The former world champion must work to get inside that stick and he could accomplish that with sheer will or with a sharp counterpunch that allows him to step into the pocket.

Uncork the left hook as a counter in traffic

The southpaw Martin’s ability to get inside could be further enhanced if he could time and uncork a counter left hook following an Ajagba miss in the pocket.

Martin can possibly take one to get one too with his left hook being a weapon that could possibly change the flow — and outcome — of this fight.

Anticipate the right hand

We have watched Martin fall victim to a right hand over the course of his career. And it usually greets him in a flash knockdown.

Martin, at 39, must anticipate the shot especially when it comes on the back end of a one-two combination. Ajagba, like Jared Anderson and Anthony Joshua did, can score a knockdown of Martin if the American heavyweight is not careful.

Martin must anticipate the incoming shot or he will have a hard time trying to have his hand raised Sunday night.