Zuffa Boxing 03 Preview: Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin — Start Time, Predictions, and Key Details for Sunday
Zuffa Boxing returns this Sunday with Zuffa Boxing 03 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Efe Ajagba and former IBF champion Charles Martin.
Ajagba is knocking on the door of the world’s top 10 heavyweights. The narrative would already place him there if the scoring in his latest fight had tipped a bit differently. In that bout, he faced Martin Bakole, a formidable adversary many in the division avoid because of the tough challenges he presents.
Ajagba controlled large stretches of the Bakole battle in May 2025, yet the scoring produced a majority draw: one judge had it 96-94 for Ajagba, while the other two tallied it 95-95. That result kept Ajagba’s momentum in flux, though his overall performance suggested he belongs among the top contenders.
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Ajagba’s strong showing against Bakole earned him consideration for an IBF title eliminator against Frank Sanchez, who handed Ajagba his sole pro defeat in 2021. Displeased with how the purse bid for that eliminator played out, Ajagba chose not to proceed, which led to the end of his contract with Top Rank. That opened the door for him to sign with Zuffa Boxing, where he continues to pursue a world title shot.
Charles Martin, despite having held a world title, has a somewhat unusual championship arc. He captured the IBF title in 2016 by beating Vyacheslav Glazkov, who could not continue after a knee injury suffered on a third-round knockdown. Less than three months later, Martin lost the belt with a second-round knockout to Anthony Joshua.
Martin has long insisted that he was seriously injured about 10 days before the Joshua fight and has chased a rematch for years, hovering around the fringe of true title contention with a string of wins before setbacks against Adam Kownacki, Luis Ortiz, and Jared Anderson.
After dropping to Anderson in July 2023, Martin stopped a relatively unknown Matthew McKinney in November to get back in the win column. He has not fought since, marking 15 months out of the ring prior to this bout.
The night’s co-main will feature a light heavyweight tilt between Umar Dzambekov and Ahmed Elbiali, a fight that has stood out on the card. Dzambekov remains undefeated as he tests himself against the seasoned Elbiali, who carries a lone defeat to former world champion Jean Pascal.
Here’s a closer look at the rest of the Sunday lineup and the latest odds before we wrap with a main-event prediction.
Zuffa Boxing 03 fight card (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Efe Ajagba -1100 vs. Charles Martin +650, heavyweights
- Umar Dzambekov -1400 vs. Ahmed Elbiali +700, light heavyweights
- Abel Mejia -800 vs. Jaybrio Pe Benito +500, lightweights
- Leonardo Ruiz -1400 vs. Casey Streeter +700, middleweights
- Antonio Woods -425 vs. Mark Beuke +300, middleweights
- Oswaldo Molina -1200 vs. Joshua Clark +650, lightweights
- Emiliano Alvarado -2500 vs. Devin Gantt +1000, junior featherweights
- Dariial Kuchmenov -3000 vs. Jorge Lagunas +1000, lightweights
Where to watch Zuffa Boxing 03
Date: February 15 | Location: Meta APEX, Las Vegas
- Prelims start at 6:00 p.m. ET
- Main card starts at 9:00 p.m. ET
- Watch live on Paramount+ (subscription options start at $8.99/month)
Prediction
Ajagba, 31 years old, arrives on a six-fight unbeaten streak and was positioned for a title eliminator, underscoring his status as a serious heavyweight contender. Martin’s career path includes a world title reign, but his current standing resembles that of a gatekeeper—vital for testing up-and-comers and signaling who’s ready to move up.
Ajagba’s loss to Frank Sanchez previously raised questions about whether he’s ready to break into the sport’s elite, and there’s a storyline here: if he can outlast a former champion like Martin, it would affirm his trajectory toward bigger fights at heavyweight. His performance against Bakole, especially his ability to handle a big, awkward puncher, suggests he can handle top-tier pressure.
This matchup looks crafted to favor Ajagba: defeat a former champion and continue his ascent. Prediction: Efe Ajagba to win by unanimous decision (UD), signaling a clear step forward in his quest for a world title shot.
