| |
|
|
Efe Ajagba Edges Stephan Shaw
Photo: Mikey Williams - Top Rank
The heavyweights boxed instead of brawled, and Efe
Ajagba closed the show strong. Ajagba edged the
previously unbeaten Stephan Shaw by 10-round unanimous
decision (96-94 3x) Saturday evening at Turning Stone
Resort Casino.
Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) won his second straight bout since
a 2021 defeat to Frank Sanchez. He had surgeries on both
elbows after that fight and has re-established himself
as a contender to watch. Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) was ahead
58-56 on all three judges' cards after the sixth but was
outlanded 62-37 in the last four rounds.
In a battle of jabs, Ajagba landed his with more
frequency (90-48).
“I went back to the corner and they told me to let my
hands go, keep throwing punches, my jab. I controlled
the fight, so that’s how I won the fight," Ajagba said.
“He tried to land the big shots. I watched him to see
what he was going to do. He kept throwing the jab, using
the jab more.”
Rice Shocks Vianello in Co-Feature
The heavyweight, spoiler, Jonnie Rice, did it again.
Rice (16-6-1, 11 KOs) stunned Guido Vianello (10-1-1, 9
KOs), stopping the 2016 Italian Olympian in the seventh
round. Vianello was cut over the left eye by a right
hand in the sixth round, although the referee initially
ruled it was caused by an accidental headbutt.
After a conference with the local commission, the ruling
was reversed. Rice entered the fight coming off
back-to-back victories over highly regarded prospect
Michael Coffie.
At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had
Vianello ahead: 59-55 2x and 58-56.
“I did it again… another undefeated fighter," Rice said.
"I’m not here to call anyone out right now. I’m going to
enjoy this victory and then see what’s next.”
Junior Lightweights: Abraham "El Super" Nova (22-1, 15
KOs) exorcised the demon of last June's knockout loss to
Robeisy Ramirez and knocked down Adam "BluNose" Lopez
(16-4, 6 KOs) twice to win a 10-round unanimous
decision. The first four rounds were razor-thin, but in
the fifth, Nova landed a left hook during an exchange
that floored Lopez. In the sixth, Nova knocked down
Lopez again, creating a wide gulf on the cards. Lopez
buzzed Nova in the eighth but was unable to press the
advantage. Scores: 97-91 and 98-90 2x.
Lightweights: Haven Brady Jr. (9-0, 4 KOs) dominated
early and had to hold off the late charge of Colombian
banger Ruben Cervera (13-4, 11 KOs). Brady was clipped
with an overhand right at the end of the fifth round,
but he weathered the storm and notched an eight-round
unanimous decision. Scores: 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74.
Welterweights: Local favorite Bryce Mills (11-1, 4 KOs),
from nearby Liverpool, New York, had the fans on their
feet from the time he made his ring walk. He did not
disappoint, shutting out the aggressive Margarito
Hernandez (3-4-1) over six rounds. Scores: 60-54 3x.
Welterweights: Brian Norman Jr. (23-0, 19 KOs) made his
Top Rank debut and shook off the ring rust with an
eight-round unanimous decision over Argentina's Rodrigo
Coria (10-5, 2 KOs). Norman nearly stopped Coria in the
opening round, but the southpaw veteran survived and
even stunned Norman with a lead left hand in the
seventh. Norman scored a knockdown with a left hook in
the eighth round to secure the win. Scores: 79-72 and
77-74 2x.
Featherweights: Undefeated Brooklyn-born prospect Bruce
"Shu Shu" Carrington (6-0, 3 KOs) rolled past Juan
Antonio Lopez (17-13-1, 7 KOs) but received some
much-needed experience en route to a six-round unanimous
decision victory. Scores: 60-54 3x.
Light Heavyweights: Cleveland-born prospect Dante
Benjamin Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) prevailed in the battle of
unbeatens with a first-round round TKO over Emmanueal
Austin (6-1, 6 KOs). Benjamin knocked down Austin with a
left-right combination. Time of stoppage: 2:50.
|
|
|
