Saturday night at Turning Stone Resort & On line casino in New York sees heavyweights prime the invoice, with Efe Ajagba assembly Stephan Shaw in the primary occasion over a scheduled ten rounds.
Prime Rank promote Ajagba vs Shaw and the cardboard will be seen on Sky Sports activities within the UK, and ESPN within the USA.
Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) was on account of tackle WBC bridgerweight champion Oscar Rivas, however the Colombian was compelled to withdraw on account of an eye fixed harm, so in steps Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) on simply over two weeks’ discover.
Ajagba made a strong begin to his skilled profession, and was highly-touted, after a number of early wins.
The wheels got here off considerably although in October 2021, because the 28-year-old was dropped in spherical seven on the best way to a lopsided factors loss to fellow prospect Frank Sanchez in Las Vegas.
The Nigeria native was final out in August 2022, stopping Jozsef Darmos in two rounds.
‘Massive Shot’ has been making his title on a lot smaller payments.
The 30-year-old, a former sparring associate of ex-WBC heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder was on a three-fight knockout streak till his final struggle, in November final 12 months, the place he was taken the total eight rounds by Rydell Booker earlier than successful each body on the scorecards.
This seems a giant step-up at school for the St Louis native.
Prediction: Ajagba will need to make waves in 2023, and I can’t see him slipping up in opposition to Shaw. He ought to be capable of shut the present earlier than the midway mark.
Vianello meets Rice
One other heavyweight hope options on the undercard.
Las Vegas-based Italian Guido Vianello was set to struggle Shaw initially, however he now takes a difficult scheduled ten spherical project in opposition to Jonathan Rice.
Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs) was has gained three on the spin since a six spherical draw with Kingsley Ibeh in 2020, however appeared laboured in his final struggle, an eight spherical factors win in opposition to Scotland’s Jay McFarlane in Rome.
Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) is coming off a few wins in opposition to Michael Well mannered Coffie, a fifth spherical stoppage in in July 2021 was adopted by a ten spherical factors success final January.
Prediction: Vianello can take this one, after a couple of scares, on the playing cards.
Remaining Undercard
Abraham Nova (21-1, 15 KOs) is coming off his first skilled loss, a fifth spherical knockout by the hands of Robeisy Ramirez in June, and the tremendous featherweight can take a good factors win in opposition to Adam Lopez (16-3, 6 KOs) over ten rounds.
In eight rounders, Floyd Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs) ought to stay undefeated, and the tremendous bantamweight can take a call win in opposition to Edwin Rodriguez (11-6-2, 5 KOs).
Unbeaten welterweight, Brian Norman Jr (22-0, 19 KOs) also can keep excellent, with an early victory in opposition to Argentina’s Rodrigo Damian Coria (10-4, 2 KOs).
Haven Brady Jr (8-0, 4 KOs) ought to win his tremendous featherweight encounter in opposition to Ruben Cervera (13-3, 11 KOs) on factors.
Rohan Polanco (8-0, 5 KOs) can rating a stoppage in his welterweight contest in opposition to Julian Smith (6-1, 4 KOs).
In six spherical motion, tremendous light-weight Bryce Mills (10-1, 4 KOs) can halt Margarito Hernandez (3-3-1) inside schedule, and at mild heavyweight Dante Benjamin (4-0, 2 KOs) can diffuse Emmanueal Austin (6-0, 6 KOs) and take a factors win.
Bruce Carrington (5-0, 3 KOs) ought to defeat Juan Antonio Lopez (17-12-1, 7 KOs) on the playing cards at featherweight.