Underdog Charles Martin, 39, is determined to make a statement against Ajagba, despite his lack of recent fighting experience and a nearly decade-long absence from the IBF heavyweight title. Martin, a powerful southpaw, believes Ajagba's overconfidence will be his downfall in the Zuffa Boxing main event at Meta APEX, UFC's performance center in Las Vegas.
Martin, who has only fought one round in the past 2½ years, aims to prove that his previous IBF title reign was not a fluke. He tells The Ring, "I know he's a big, strong dude. I'll work my way around him, break him down, and get him out of there. That's what I do. That's what I'm coming to do."
Martin's strategy is clear: he seeks big fights and views Ajagba as an obstacle to his goals. He wants to make it to Saudi and be on the bigger cards, back in the mix. Martin's confidence is evident in his words, "I want the big fights. [Ajagba is] in my way. That’s his fault, that’s his mistake. [Beating Ajagba is gonna] get me them big fights."
Martin's preparation for this opportunity is meticulous, knowing that his age makes it a crucial one. He assures Ajagba that he will face a much fitter fighter than in his last bout, a 10-round majority draw with Martin Bakole. Martin believes Bakole was out of shape, and he plans to do the same to Ajagba, who has only lost to Frank Sanchez in a 10-round unanimous decision.
Martin's dedication to his craft is evident, stating, "In the past, I might not have been that dedicated fighter I was when I first started. That hurt me a lot, so being back on that right track, I’m coming to make a statement."
Ajagba, ranked as The Ring's No. 8 contender for Oleksandr Usyk's crown, is the favorite according to DraftKings. The 10-round bout between Ajagba and Martin will be the main event of a three-fight show on Paramount+, starting at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), featuring Russian light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov and Egyptian veteran Ahmed Elbiali in the co-feature.
