Ajagba says Martin refused sparring before agreeing to fight

“We were supposed to spar last year and he refused,” Ajagba said to Ring Magazine. “He said if I’m fighting a southpaw, let him know. I said, ‘I’m not fighting a southpaw, but [we can spar].’ And he refused. He didn’t wanna spar. He knows that. But here we are — he wants to fight me in a real fight. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m glad you accepted the fight.’ I was surprised.”

Ajagba never forgot the exchange, and the fight now gives him the opportunity to settle something he believes was left unfinished. Sparring often answers questions before fight night arrives. Ajagba believes those questions will now be answered in full view.

Ajagba enters following a majority draw against Martin Bakole last May, a difficult fight that kept him in the contender group and strengthened his confidence in his ability to compete at that level. He has stayed active and positioned himself for opportunities like this one.

Martin returns at 39 after fighting once in the past 31 months. The former IBF heavyweight champion has shared the ring with Anthony Joshua, Luis Ortiz, and Jared Anderson, giving him experience against elite opponents even as his activity slowed.

The fight headlines a Zuffa Boxing card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on Paramount+. Ajagba enters as the favorite, but his focus reflects something more personal, as he prepares to face an opponent he believes chose not to face him when given the chance.