Ajagba, Itauma, Oshoba Target World Boxing Titles in 2026

Three of Nigeria’s top professional boxers Efe Ajagba, Moses Itauma, and Elizabeth Oshoba are setting their sights on world titles in 2026, with all three poised for breakthrough moments on the global stage.

Efe Ajagba, the 31-year-old US-based heavyweight from Delta State, enters the year as the WBC silver heavyweight champion and is ranked among The Ring magazine’s top 10 heavyweights. With a professional record of 20 wins, one loss, and one draw, including 14 knockouts, Ajagba is just a fight away from a full world title opportunity. He is scheduled to headline a bout against former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin in Las Vegas on February 14, a clash that could position him for a world title eliminator later this year.

British-Nigerian Moses Itauma, 21, is another rising star. Undefeated in 13 professional fights with 11 knockouts, Itauma holds the WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title and was named The Ring’s 2024 Prospect of the Year. After his first-round stoppage of former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in 2025, Itauma is expected to face Jermaine Franklin in March. A victory could propel him toward a world title shot and potentially make him the youngest British world champion in history.

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In the women’s division, 26-year-old Elizabeth Oshoba is already making history. Based in the UK, Oshoba became the first Nigerian female boxer to win a world title in January 2024, capturing the WBC silver featherweight belt. She remains undefeated in nine professional bouts, also holding the IBO female super-featherweight title, and is ranked fourth globally. Oshoba has her eyes set on claiming the full WBC world title and cementing her legacy as Nigeria’s greatest female boxer.

With key bouts scheduled throughout 2026, Nigerian boxing fans are anticipating a landmark year as Ajagba, Itauma, and Oshoba aim to translate their momentum into world championship success. The trio represents a new era of Nigerian talent making waves internationally, promising excitement and global recognition for the country’s boxing scene.