Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba Returns With Stephen Shaw

FIGHT WEEK

Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will face undefeated Stephen Shaw in the 10-round main event scheduled for Saturday night on ESPN and ESPN+.

Efe Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) vs Stephan Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs)

• When: Saturday, January 14
• Time: 10pm ET / 7pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
• Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
• television/stream: GAME, GAME +
• Assignment: Heavyweight (unlimited)
• threatened: No main title
• Pound-for-pound ratings: Not available
• the odds: Even (average of multiple stores)
• Also on the card: Guido Vianello vs Jonnie Rice, heavyweights; Adam Lopez vs. Abraham Nova, junior lightweight
• Guess: Ajagba KO 8
• Story: Efe Ajagba continues his undefeated comeback against late substitute Stephen Shaw in a main event on ESPN. Ajagba is a Nigerian living in Houston who is known for his size (6 foot-6) and punch power. This 28-year-old was a rapidly rising contender until he was firmly established pointed out by Frank Sanchez in October 2021, this seems to have exposed his limitations. He recovered in his only game since, the Jozsef Darmos knockout in the second round in August. Ajagba was scheduled to face Oscar Rivas but Rivas withdrew due to an eye injury. . Shaw, who had been scheduled to fight on the bottom card, agreed to step up to face the massive young opponent in two weeks. Shaw has been busy, fighting three times last year. He will make an eight-round elimination decision against Rydell Booker in November. However, he’s only been in one scheduled round of 10 and that was over three years ago. This is the biggest opportunity for the 30-year-old St. Louis, who turned pro in 2013.

FIGHT THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

• Jessica Nery Plata vs Kim Clavel, junior flyweight (for Plata’s WBA belt and Clavel’s WBC belt), Laval, Quebec (ESPN+).

SATURDAY

• KSI vs FaZe Temperrr, cruiser class, London (pay-per-view).