…Efe Ajagba ready for top 10, top 5 contenders
Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba delivered a dominant performance, earning a technical knockout win over former IBF world champion Charles Martin in the fourth round of his Zuffa Boxing debut in the early hours of Monday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Martin began the bout on the front foot, probing Ajagba with sharp jabs and constant movement around the ring, while the Nigerian pressed forward in search of a decisive power shot.
The American enjoyed his best spell in the second round, landing two solid body shots before unleashing a three-punch combination that briefly tested Ajagba.
The pattern continued into the third round, with Martin circling and looking to control the tempo. However, with 1:07 left in the round, Ajagba seized his moment, sending the former champion to the canvas with a thunderous right hook. Martin managed to beat the count and survive the round.
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He would not last much longer. Just 23 seconds into the fourth round, Ajagba unleashed three consecutive right hands that floored Martin once again, leaving him flat on his back. Sensing the end, Ajagba followed up with a barrage of combinations, and with Martin unable to properly defend himself, the referee stepped in and waved off the contest with 1:50 remaining in the round.
Speaking after the fight, a confident Ajagba declared his readiness to face elite opponents in the heavyweight division.
“I’m ready for everyone in the top 10,” Ajagba said. “Nobody’s mentioning my name, like I said, but it’s obvious. Nobody’s calling my name. I’m in the top 10. I’m ready to go. I want to fight guys in the top 10, top five,” added the Nigerian, who is ranked No. 8 by Ring Magazine.
The victory marks a return to winning ways for Ajagba following his majority decision draw against Martin Bakole last May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He now boasts 23 wins, including 15 knockouts, from 25 professional fights since turning pro in 2017.
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