Ajagba eyes tougher fights after knocking Martin out News

Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba is demanding fights against top 10 opponents after demolishing former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin with a brutal fourth-round knockout in Las Vegas on Sunday night, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 31-year-old, ranked number eight by The Ring magazine, dropped Martin twice in the championship rounds before referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight at 1:11 of the fourth round at Meta APEX.

Ajagba floored Martin with a devastating right hand in the third round after the American had briefly troubled him with a left that buckled his knees seconds earlier. Martin rose but was relentlessly pursued around the ring as Ajagba sensed the finish.

The former IBF champion’s resistance crumbled early in the fourth when three consecutive right hands sent him crashing to the canvas just 23 seconds into the round. Although Martin beat the count, Ajagba gave him no respite, landing a barrage of rights and a left that prompted Taylor to wave off the contest.

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

The victory improved Ajagba’s record to 21-1-1 with 15 knockouts and marked his return to winning ways following a 10-round majority draw with Congolese contender Martin Bakole in May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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

Martin had boxed well through the opening two rounds, moving on the back foot and working behind his southpaw jab. However, Ajagba’s prediction proved accurate as Martin’s resistance crumbled once the Nigerian found his range.

The result proved costly for Martin, who dropped to 30-5-1 with 27 knockouts. The 39-year-old had fought only once in 31 months before facing Ajagba.

Martin briefly held the IBF heavyweight title in January 2016 after defeating Russian Vyacheslav Glazkov, but lost the belt three months later when Britain’s Anthony Joshua destroyed him in two rounds.