Efe Ajagba Drops and Stops Charles Martin in Four

Third-round knockdown sets up fourth-round finish

Efe Ajagba (20-1-1) stops Charles Martin (30-5-1, 27 KOs) at 1:11 of the fourth round, building the finish off a straight right that turned the fight in the third. The second knockdown in the fourth ended it.

Martin gave Ajagba problems early. From the southpaw stance, he worked behind a measured jab, stepped outside the lead foot, and shot the straight left down the middle. Ajagba followed instead of cutting the ring, head high, reaching with single right hands without starting with the jab.

Late in the second, Martin timed him clean. Ajagba came in upright and took a straight left that checked his chin clean. Martin held his ground and kept the fight at his range.

The third round turned it.

Martin’s back touched the ropes and his stance narrowed. Ajagba set his feet and drove a straight right through the guard. No loop, no swing, straight down the center. Martin went down hard. He beat the count, though his legs were rigid and he never regained his base.

Ajagba pressed with discipline. He leaned on him inside, forced him back to the ropes, then reset and shot short right hands over the top.

Early in the fourth, Ajagba stepped in behind a probing jab and sent another straight right through the guard. Down again. Referee Thomas Taylor asked Martin for something in return. There was no response. Ajagba reset his feet and let combinations go, straight rights and short hooks, keeping him pinned until the stoppage.

That is heavyweight reality. One clean right hand shifts balance and confidence.

Ajagba entered off a draw with Martin Bakole that many observers scored in his favor. Under a new banner with Zuffa Boxing, he needed a clean finish over a former IBF belt holder. He found it once he stopped reaching and started punching through the target with his feet set.

“I didn’t feel his power, but he has a lot of experience. I did expect that. He was very sharp,” Ajagba said.

“I’m ready for everyone in the top 10, but nobody’s mentioning my name. Nobody’s calling my name. I’m already top 10, I’m ready to go.”

The right hand is real. For Ajagba to move deeper into contender fights, he must start with the jab, cut off the ring with authority, and stay balanced after he throws. Against bigger punchers who hold center and counter off the jab, those details will decide how far he goes.