Ahead of Efe Ajagba's heavyweight bout against Charles Martin on February 15 we examine the division to identify the chances of established fighters succeeding in their ongoing quests to win a title.

Martin has already won a major belt (though that IBF reign lasted a little under three months) but the same cannot be said for Ajagba. The 2016 Nigerian Olympian can take a major step towards that goal with a win in their crossroads bout this Sunday night on Paramount+ from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

We examine his case, alongside other relevant heavyweights over the past 10 years who’ve yet to claim a full version of a major sanctioning body’s belt.

STILL TIME - Those who haven’t, but still might…

Agit Kabayel

Record: 27-0 (19 KOs)

Kabayel is the interim WBC heavyweight titleholder. He is one of the best heavyweights in the sport, who forces the pace like the great Joe Frazier. A good bet to win a (proper)  belt within the next two years. 

Frank Sanchez

Record: 25-1 (18 KOs)

One would think that, eventually, Sanchez will fight in that IBF eliminator he’s long been promised. A tricky boxer, albeit one who lost to Kabayel, has rebuilt himself into a top contender. He holds a win over Ajagba and remains a factor in the division. 

Efe Ajagba 

Record: 20-1-1 (14 KOs)

Despite that loss to Sanchez, which came on points in 2021, Ajagba squeaked past Guido Vianello on a split and, notably in his most recent bout, he held Martin Bakole to a draw. A big puncher if still a little crude.

Bakhodir Jalolov

Record: 16-0 (14 KOs)

Potentially doomed to be a great amateur who never converts to being a pro, Jalolov has been flirting with the paid code since 2018, but prioritized the Olympic Games. He has won two gold medals in the super heavyweight division, but is yet to replicate that form as a professional. 

Richard Torrez Jnr

Record: 14-0 (12 KOs)

Torrez is one of the better heavyweights to come through the amateurs. A 2020 Olympic silver medalist who lost in the finals to Jalolov. Torrez now awaits a step-up bout which could be an IBF eliminator against Sanchez. 

Labinot Xhoxhaj

Record: 21-0 (16 KOs)

More than just a spell checker’s dream, Xhoxhaj holds a win over 2020 Olympian Mourad Aliev, and is one of the better spoilers in the division. 

TIME’S RUNNING OUT - They’ve got to move fast…

Michael Hunter

Record: 24-1-2 (17 KOs)

A talented 2012 U.S. Olympian, Hunter’s had an odd career. His only (officially sanctioned) pro loss came to Oleksandr Usyk in a cruiserweight scrap that took place nine years ago. His victories over Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin also feel like yesterday’s news. But, at 37, he could yet snare a big fight. 

Guido Vianello

Record: 14-3-1 (12 KOs)

The 2016 Italian Olympian has proven to be a tough veteran. He upset Alexis Barriere and Arslanbek Makhmudov, stopping both. Vianello appears undeterred by a few losses and is showing an old-school mentality that makes him a dangerous contender. 

Martin Bakole

Record: 21-2-1 (16 KOs)

Bakole has lost his luster since stopping Jared Anderson. Bakole has since been stopped by Joseph Parker, a fight he took on short notice, and he looked flat against Ajagba. This year will determine where Bakole goes. Was he a one-hit wonder, or will he bounce back? 

Filip Hrgovic

Record: 19-1 (14 KOs)

Since being stopped by Daniel Dubois in 2024, Hrgovic has beaten Joyce and David Adeleye to reinvigorate his career. Though not the revered prospect he used to be, Hrgovic might just be capable of springing an upset to win a belt.

MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE - Would take a shot from the Gods…

Luis Ortiz 

Record: 35-3 (30 KOs)

Ortiz once looked the part of being a titleholder without actually holding one. In title fights, he has a record of 0-2, though he could have won both of those encounters against Deontay Wilder. In Ortiz’s prime which was riddled with failing PED tests, he was avoided. At 46 years old, Ortiz is highly unlikely to snare another shot.

Joe Joyce

Record: 16-4 (15 KOs)

Joyce was a monster during his run with stoppage wins over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker. His defensive limitations appeared to age him quickly, however. Joyce still fights, but has lost four of his last five fights and is 40 years old.

Zhilei Zhang

Record: 27-3-1 (22 KOs)

At 42 years old, Zhang is battling father time. He is one of the best punchers of his era, but now has to fend off younger fighters to be removed from this list, which doesn’t seem feasible.

Oscar Rivas

Record: 28-1 (19 KOs)

Rivas was a solid puncher, aggressive, and composed. He gave Dillian Whyte a competitive fight, in which he dropped Whyte. While most will point to the weakness of the modern era, a fighter like Rivas proves the depth, as he appeared to be a fighter who could potentially win a belt, but didn’t. 

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.