The details for Zuffa Boxing’s second planned show remain forthcoming, but it appears the upstart company has already secured a main event for its third outing.
BoxingScene has learned that a heavyweight match between Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin will headline the planned February 14 Paramount+ show from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card comes at the tail end of three planned shows in a four-weekend span for Zuffa, in alignment with the January 24 debut of UFC on Paramount+.
Zuffa and UFC are both under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella.
News of the February 14 main event was first reported by Fight Freaks Unite founder Dan Rafael. The event itself is listed on the Nevada State Athletic Commission schedule, as are shows planned for January 23 and January 30.
The January 23 launch show will be topped by a junior middleweight matchup between unbeaten prospect Callum Walsh and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. No fights are yet confirmed for the January 30 show, though BoxingScene has learned that former WBA 140lbs titlist Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela is likely to top the bill.
Ajagba-Martin represents an interesting pairing, given the series’ proposed direction of showcasing rising talent.
It also resurrects a previously planned matchup, as the bout was once eyed by Top Rank to headline a November 2023 ESPN+ show from Stateline, Nevada. Ajagba instead faced Joseph Goodall, whom he stopped in the 4th round.
The 2016 Olympian – representing Nigeria – was tabbed earlier last year to face Frank Sanchez in an ordered IBF title eliminator in what would have been a rematch to their October 2021 meeting won by Sanchez.
The bout went to a purse bid hearing, won by Sampson Boxing, LLC.
However, Ajagba, 20-1-1 (14 KOs), was displeased with the purse offering and declined to move forward with the fight. It cost him the chance to avenge his lone career defeat, and ultimately led to the end of his agreement with Top Rank.
Martin, 30-4-1 (27 KOs), previously held the IBF heavyweight title, having won the belt in January 2016. His stay was brief, as he was stopped in the second round by then-unbeaten Anthony Joshua in his first title win in April 2016.
Just 10 fights have followed in the near-10-year period since that outing for the now-39-year-old southpaw. He provided stiff tests for unbeaten rising heavyweights Jared Anderson and Adam Kownacki and former title challenger Luis Ortiz along the way.
There have also been some memorable wins as well, such as his February 2020 knockout victory over former title challenger Gerald Washington.
That said, Martin has not had the chance to walk this earth like a god since a November 2024 early knockout victory over Matthew McKinney in Redwood City, California.
The trio of cards presented by Zuffa Boxing are the first boxing events to appear on a Paramount Skydance platform since cable giant Showtime’s exit from the sport at the end of 2023.
