Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

Efe Ajagba is still grinding toward a crack at a heavyweight world title.

The Nigerian boxer could inch one step closer to that goal by making a statement against former world champion Charles Martin. The heavyweights will fight as part of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday.

Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs) is coming off the torment of a majority draw which he and Martin Bakole fought to in May. The result was controversial as one judge scored the bout for Ajagba who controlled the action behind the jab.

Ajagba had produced five straight victories prior to the draw. The 31-year-old Ajagba will clash with Martin (30-4-1, 27 KOs) who did not make a ring appearance in 2025, having last defeated Matthew McKinney via first-round KO in November 2024.

The Ring

Will Ajagba make a statement against Martin with a convincing victory? Or will Martin, 39, turn back the hands of time for an upset? DAZN News examines who has the edge in this heavyweight tilt.

Boxing Styles

Efe Ajagba works effectively behind the jab, leveraging his 6-foot-6 frame and 85 inches of reach to laser the shot with accuracy and oomph. Plus, the Nigerian heavyweight tends to be agile around the ring and equipped with hand speed when he turns that jab into a quick one-two combination.

His style will clash with Charles Martin who is comfortable both boxing and brawling. Martin can be susceptible to a right hand which Ajagba detonates quickly. On the other hand, Ajabga abandons his guard over sequences in a fight and that could leave him vulnerable to a big left from the southpaw Martin.

Perhaps if there is a push in styles, it resides with Ajagba’s five-inch reach advantage. He gets the slight nod in this clash of styles.

Edge: Ajagba

Power

Martin’s hand speed has waned over the years, but his power is present. He was a knockout threat against a much younger Jared Anderson, wobbling the American and nearly putting him away in their July 2023 bout.

That said, he is capable of producing a similar power surge against Ajagba too. The Nigerian heavyweight has plenty of power to his punch as well and can put Martin on his back also. However, until that happens, Martin, who has claimed 27 of his 30 victories by knockout, owns the slight edge here.

Edge: Martin

Mental Warfare

Martin touts experience against the likes of Anthony Joshua, Luis Ortiz, Gerald Washington and Anderson to name a few. He is a battle-tested heavyweight veteran.

But overcoming the ring rust that might accompany a 15-month absence is not an easy task for a 39-year-old.

Plus, Ajagba’s confidence should not have wavered after many felt like he did enough to have his hand raised against Bakole.

Edge: Ajagba

Who has the edge in Ajagba vs. Martin?

If Ajagba can effectively work behind the jab with hand speed and dictate the terms of this fight without being goaded into a slugfest, he has the skills to emerge victorious Sunday. It is why DAZN News is giving him a 2-1 edge, though he must be disciplined with his guard and not give a potent puncher like Martin a chance to pounce.

Sign up to DAZN Ultimate Tier to get PPV's included in your subscription 

Subscribe to DAZN's new Ultimate Tier to get a minimum of 12 PPV events included per year, including Barrois vs Garcia, on top of another 185 fight nights. Plus Serie A football, watch on multiple devices, and many more extra benefits.

Sign up for £22.99 in the UK / $44.99 in the U.S. More details here .