By Mark Eisner: Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) fights replacement opponent Stephan Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) in a 12 round fight on ESPN tonight at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona. The event starts at 10:00 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+.
Ajagba probably wishes he was still scheduled to face Oscar Rivas instead of the crafty Shaw, but he suffered an injury and had to be replaced on short notice.
Boxing News 24 will be giving live updates & results below of tonight’s action.
In the chief support bout, heavyweight Guido Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KO) takes on the big-punching Jonnie Rice (15-6-1, 10 KO) in a 10 round fight.
“It’s considered an even kind of match-ups between heavyweight prospects. I’d say that Ajagba is the little more well known guy, but he’s the slight underdog here despite being the better name. What do you make of it all,” said Max Kellerman to Max on Boxing about tonight’s heavyweight main event between Efe Ajagba and Stephan Shaw in a Top Rank-promoted event on ESPN.
Tonight’s undercard:
Guido Vianello vs. Jonnie Ricey
Abraham Nova vs. Adam Lopez
Haven Brady vs. Ruben Cervera
Bryce Mills vs. Margarito Hernandez
Floyd Diaz vs. Edwin Rodriguez
Brian Norman Jr vs. Rodrigo Coria
Bruce Carrington vs. Juan Antonio Lopez
Dante Benjamin Jr vs. Emmanuel Austin
“I love this match-up for both guys. Efe Ajagba is a guy that everybody that’s tuning in and everybody in the room knows what he’s looking at, which is that big right hand,” said Andre Ward about the 6’6″ Efe Ajagba, who Frank Sanchez recently beat.
“He’s blessed with power, and it’s a natural shot that comes off. As we saw in his lone loss, if you’re going to beat Efe Ajagba, it’s probably not going to be standing in front of him trading. It’s going to be outboxing him, and that’s what Stephan Shaw brings to the table.
“He’s a good boxer; he’s patient; he’s trained by my former Olympic coach Bashi Abdullah. So he’s got good teaching, and that’s the key to victory. Can Efe Ajagba do something other than just set up the right hand to offset the boxing of Shaw?
“Can Shaw take the right hand and find another gear in this fight in this fight with Efe Ajagba?” said Ward.
“First of all, Ajagba’s loss to Sanchez. Do you know what happens when a crude, big puncher gets in with a Cuban boxer with a deep amateur background? You might take an L,” said Kellerman. “That doesn’t mean the end of your prospect status. It just means you got put in wrong.”
