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Efe Ajagba vs. Stephan Shaw & Guido Vianello
vs. Jonnie Rice Final Press Conference
The Top Rank on ESPN 2023 schedule kicks off with a
heavyweight doubleheader Saturday at Turning Stone Resort
Casino.
In the 10-round main event, thunderous puncher Efe Ajagba
(16-1, 13 KOs) looks upend the unbeaten run of St. Louis
native Stephan "Big Shot" Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs).
The 10-round co-feature sees 2016 Italian Olympian Guido
"The Gladiator" Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs) stepping up against
noted spoiler Jonnie Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs). Ajagba-Shaw and
Vianello-Rice will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes
and ESPN+ at 10 p.m ET/7 p.m. PT.
The undercard — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at
5:30 p.m. ET/2:3-0 p.m. PT — features a 50/50 junior
lightweight bout between contenders Abraham "El Super" Nova
(21-1, 15 KOs) and Adam "BluNose" Lopez (16-3, 6 KOs),
upstate New York-born junior welterweight prospect Bryce
Mills (10-1, 4 KOs), and Brooklyn-born featherweight
sensation Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington (5-0, 3 KOs).
At Thursday's press conference, this is what the fighters
had to say.
Efe Ajagba
“I have the name ‘The Silent Roller’ because I don’t talk
much. Since I came back from my surgery, I’ve tried to do
everything to fight more. That’s why I only had one fight
last year. I’ve been trying to get more fights.”
“I’ve made adjustments for Saturday night. We’ll see how it
goes. I’m ready for him. I wanted to fight Oscar Rivas
before. But that changed. But now Shaw has the opportunity
to fight me.”
“It means a lot to me to represent my country. I just want
to be like them [Samuel Peter and Henry Akinwande]. Ever
since I started boxing, I’ve tried to be like them.”
“I’m ready to put on a show. I’m going to put more pressure.
I can’t wait. I’m so excited to be here.”
Stephan Shaw
“I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity. To have
that pedigree behind me—that carries me. That’s my
foundation, and I go off that. St. Louis has a rich history
of boxing. And I feel like right now I’m the pride of St.
Louis. I’m looking to continue that legacy of having great
world champions represent St. Louis, Missouri.”
“I’ve got God on my side. God makes all the situations that
I have faced in my entire career and He has made it work. I
have faced adversity that the average man wouldn’t be able
to deal with. Coming from St. Louis, beating the odds and
being on this stage to have my moment. I feel great. I’m
excited.”
“I’m a third-generation fighter. I’m looking to become a
world champion. Saturday night, I’m going to make my mark.”
Guido Vianello
“I was happy to fight in my country, but I’m happy to fight
here as well because America is my second home. My last
opponent was very tough. I got him with a lot of punches. It
was incredible because I have my gladiator style and he had
a wild style. So, it was good for the Italian people.”
“Jonnie has a lot of experience, more than me. But I’m
ready. I’ve been training very hard. I’ve been training very
hard for four years since I moved to the USA. I train all
the time to fight in a war, so I’m ready for this.”
Jonnie Rice
“This means the world to me right now. It’s another chance
to beat another undefeated fighter. And that’s what’s on my
mind. I’m going to go in there and beat him.”
“A big reason I moved to Las Vegas is to constantly be in
the mindset of boxing, constantly be in the mindset of the
grind. I’ve had the great chance to work with a lot of
heavyweight warriors who came through Vegas and kept me
rejuvenated and constantly inspired. I really don’t think
that ring rust will play a part.”
Abraham Nova
“Every fight is a must-win fight. There’s not a fight that I
take for granted. This is a good opportunity for me to
showcase my skills and move up in the rankings.”
“I took a lot of things from the defeat {to Robeisy
Ramirez}. But the main thing I learned is that I have to be
more healthy as a fighter and do the right things as a
fighter. I just need to be more healthy. It was a good
opportunity, and a win here will put me in a better position
for bigger fights.”
Adam Lopez
“This is a big fight for me. I’m moving up to the next
weight class. I fought at 130 before when I fought Oscar
[Valdez], but now I’m officially a 130-pounder. I feel like
I’ve grown into it. It’s definitely a big fight. Nova and I
are kind of in the same spot with our careers. He needs it,
and I need it. I’m excited for it. It’s definitely, in my
eyes, a Fight of the Year candidate type of fight.”
Bryce Mills
“I’m blessed. It’s been three and a half years since I’ve
fought at home. It’s a great opportunity. I’m really
excited. There’s nothing like that hometown support and that
hometown energy when you’re in the ring. It adds a different
level of intensity and enthusiasm to the fight.”
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