Heavyweight Efe Ajagba conjured solid buzz as he built up an undefeated record. The buzz dipped, though, when he didn't win in conclusive and entrancing fashion. The fighter went from the PBC side of the street to Top Rank, and is now tasked with restoring some shine to his rep on Saturday night topping a Top Rank card in Verona, NY.
The Nigerian native, now 28 and holding a 16-1 (13 KOs) record, is still learning the craft. He beat Jonathan Rice in his Top Rank debut in Sept. 2020, stopped stepping-stone Brian Howard in April 2021, and then got handled by Frank Sanchez in a boring outing six months later. In August of 2022, Ajagba stopped journeyman Jozsef Darmos, but this Saturday, he has a stiff test on his plate.
Prediction 1
Shaw to Win
-155
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Ajagba to Win
+120
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Odds from
Stephan Shaw, age 30, holds an 18-0 (13 KOs) record, and is coming off a November UD8 against solid tester Rydell Booker. This is a crossroads fight, one that will propel the winner, if the business is handled adroitly, into a higher-profile bout. Yep, this is a solid pairing, Ajagba is seeking to re capture his momentum and Shaw seems fired up to prove he’s more skilled than the more hyped Ajagba.
Prediction 1
Shaw by TKO/KO
+400
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Ajagba by TKO/KO
+200
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Odds from
Per DraftKings, Stephan Shaw is the favorite at -155, and Efe Ajagba is the underdog at +120.
Stephan Shaw: Decision +170; KO/TKO +400
Draw: +1200
Efe Ajagba: Decision +330; KO/TKO +200
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
Heavyweight doubleheader coming 🔜#AjagbaShaw | JAN 14 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/3UPPrFcKUG
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 9, 2023
(Undercards will be streamed live exclusively on ESPN+)
Watch the fight on ESPN+ >>Founder/editor Michael Woods got addicted to boxing in 1990, when Buster Douglas shocked the world with his demolition of the then-impregnable Mike Tyson. The Brooklyn-based journalist has covered the sport since for ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bad Left Hook and RING. His journalism career started with NY Newsday in 1999. Michael Woods is also an accomplished blow by blow and color man, having done work for Top Rank, DiBella Entertainment, EPIX, and for Facebook Fightnight Live, since 2017.