Efe Ajagba vs Stephan Shaw – Results & Post-Fight Report

Efe Ajagba topped a Top Rank card at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, and the Nigerian took a largely uneventful ten round decision win against Stephan Young at heavyweight.

Ajagba had been highly touted as part of the next generation of heavyweights, but saw his progress checked in October 2021, when he was dropped and outscored by fellow prospect Frank Sanchez. He had returned with a stoppage win since. Shaw was stepping in at two weeks’ notice for former WBC bridgerweight champion Oscar Rivas, who had to withdraw and then retire due to an eye injury.

Ajagba (17-1, KO13) began by trying to establish his jab in what was a quiet opening round, and the second was much the same, with the action patient and controlled from the Nigerian. There were no real power punches thrown almost throughout, as both men turned the fight into a boxing match, and it was Ajagba that was largely getting the better of it. A nice left hand from Shaw (18-1, KO13) landed in the fourth, but Ajagba responded with a combination, but there was plenty of single shots and jabbing in the main. The action warmed up slightly in the penultimate round, with Shaw landing a left hook, and then a right hand, as the ninth came to a close. The final round belonged to Ajagba, as he twice drove Shaw back with a right hand, and mercifully, in a match that never caught fire, the bout went to the cards.

Three identical 96-94 tallies ensured Ajagba took the win, with several rounds tough to score.

On the undercard, Guido Vianello (10-1-1, KO9) was due to be taking on Stephan Shaw, but he had to settle for Jonathan Rice (16-6-1, KO11) in what looked like a tougher test over a scheduled ten at heavyweight. So it proved, as despite Vianello being comfortably ahead on all three cards, the fight was stopped during the seventh round due to a cut sustained by the Italian from a Rice right hand. It was a horrendous cut on Vianello’s left eye, and the doctor was called to inspect, and he advised the contest to be halted.

After a pulsating ten rounds of action at super featherweight, Abraham Nova (22-1, KO15) returned to winning ways, dropping Adam Lopez (16-4, KO6) twice on the way to a decision win. Nova dropped Lopez in rounds five and six, but it was a competitive affair, that Nova took by two scores of 98-90, and a third at 97-91.

Haven Brady Jr (9-0, KO4) banked eight rounds, as the lightweight outscored Ruben Cervera (13-4 KO11) by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74.

Brian Norman Jr (23-0, KO19) remained unbeaten, dropping Rodrigo Damian Coria (10-5, KO2) in the eighth and final round on the way to a decision win at welterweight, and at light heavyweight, Dante Benjamin (5-0, KO3) needed less than a round to stop Emmanueal Austin (6-1, KO6).

Bryce Mills (11-1, KO4) took a six round decision win against Margarito Hernandez (3-4-1, KO0), winning every round of their welterweight contest, and at featherweight, Bruce Carrington (6-0, KO3) boxed his way to a points win over six against Juan Antonio Lopez (17-13-1, KO7).