Fight Week: Rising heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face veteran Ryad Merhy on ESPN Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas.
FIGHT WEEK
Rising heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face veteran Ryad Merhy on ESPN Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas.
JARED ANDERSON (16-0, 15 KOs) VS. RYAD MERHY (32-2, 26 KOs)
Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Anderson 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello, heavyweights; Robson Conceicao vs. Jose Guardado, junior lightweights; Ruben Villa vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon, featherweights
Background: Anderson, viewed by many as a future champion, is nearing his first heavyweight title shot even though he’s only 24 years old. The powerful boxer-puncher from Ohio is ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies – as high as No. 4 by the WBO — after a strong 2023. He stopped George Arias in three rounds in April, nearly shut out former titleholder Charles Martin in July and knocked out Andrii Rudenko in Round 5 in August to bolster his position as a top contender. Anderson was arrested twice since the Rudenko fight. He was booked for improper handling of firearms and driving under the influence in November. The next month he pleaded no-contest to the firearms charge and the DUI was dropped. He was fined and received a suspended sentence. Then, in late February in Michigan, he was charged with a felony after taking police on a high-speed chase and crashing into a median. He is due back in court on April 15. Merhy is a 5-foot-11 former cruiserweight who was born in the Ivory Coast but lives in Belgium. The 31-year-old lost a unanimous decision to Kevin Lerena in May of last year in South Africa, Lerena’s home country. However, he bounced back to record his biggest victory in December, a split decision over 6-foot-7 2016 Olympic champion Tony Yoka. Anderson is 6-foot-4.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Angelo Leo vs. Eduardo Baez, featherweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
THURSDAY
Erik Bazinyan vs. Shakeel Phinn, super middleweights, Montreal (ESPN+)
SATURDAY
Jordan Gill vs. Zelfa Barrett, junior lightweights, Manchester, England (DAZN)
Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba knocked out Joseph Goodall in the fourth round Saturday in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Efe Ajagba continues to move in the right direction.
The 6-foot-6 heavyweight contender knocked out solid, but overmatched opponent Joseph Goodall at 50 seconds of the fourth round on Saturday night in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
The Texas-based native of Nigeria has now won four consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision against slick Frank Sanchez in October 2021.
Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) controlled the fight on Saturday from the outset, starting with his stiff, consistent jab and following with more and more power shots as the fight progressed.
He rocked Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs) with a right uppercut midway through Round 3 and continued to pound the Aussie thereafter.
Goodall was absorbing a flurry of hard, unanswered punches with his back against the ropes when referee Tony Weeks stepped in to save the underdog from undue punishment.
Ajagba was only two fights removed from a close, less-than-impressive decision over clever Stephan Shaw in January.
That was followed by a fourth-round disqualification victory in August over Zhan Kossobutskiy, who also was overmatched against the improving Ajagba.
Ajagba said after stopping Goodall that he finally feels 100% — physically and in terms of confidence — since having double elbow surgery after the setback against Sanchez.
“It’s been long,” he said. “I was out of boxing for a long time. When I came back with Stephzn Shaw, my confidence was not there. I had just come back from surgery, and I had to get back into shape.
“But right now, I came back with full confidence. That’s why I took him out,” he went on. “[My team] pushed me in training camp. They made me work extremely hard in this camp to make sure I win the fight. I sparred a lot of different guys to make me stay strong.”
Ajagaba believes he’s ready to fight anyone going forward.
“Whoever they offer me to fight, I’m ready to go,” he said. “I will go back with my team to talk about that.”
Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba knocked out Joseph Goodall in the fourth round Saturday in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Efe Ajagba continues to move in the right direction.
The 6-foot-6 heavyweight contender knocked out solid, but overmatched opponent Joseph Goodall at 50 seconds of the fourth round on Saturday night in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
The Texas-based native of Nigeria has now won four consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision against slick Frank Sanchez in October 2021.
Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) controlled the fight on Saturday from the outset, starting with his stiff, consistent jab and following with more and more power shots as the fight progressed.
He rocked Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs) with a right uppercut midway through Round 3 and continued to pound the Aussie thereafter.
Goodall was absorbing a flurry of hard, unanswered punches with his back against the ropes when referee Tony Weeks stepped in to save the underdog from undue punishment.
Ajagba was only two fights removed from a close, less-than-impressive decision over clever Stephan Shaw in January.
That was followed by a fourth-round disqualification victory in August over Zhan Kossobutskiy, who also was overmatched against the improving Ajagba.
Ajagba said after stopping Goodall that he finally feels 100% — physically and in terms of confidence — since having double elbow surgery after the setback against Sanchez.
“It’s been long,” he said. “I was out of boxing for a long time. When I came back with Stephzn Shaw, my confidence was not there. I had just come back from surgery, and I had to get back into shape.
“But right now, I came back with full confidence. That’s why I took him out,” he went on. “[My team] pushed me in training camp. They made me work extremely hard in this camp to make sure I win the fight. I sparred a lot of different guys to make me stay strong.”
Ajagaba believes he’s ready to fight anyone going forward.
“Whoever they offer me to fight, I’m ready to go,” he said. “I will go back with my team to talk about that.”
Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba is in action against Joe Goodall. Meanwhile, Joe Cordina will defend his title against Eduard Vazquez.
FIGHT WEEK
Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will face hard-punching Joe Goodall on Saturday. On the same day, 130-pound champ Joe Cordina will defend his belt against Eduard Vazquez.
EFE AJAGBA (18-1, 13 KOs)
VS. JOE GOODALL (10-1-1, 9 KOs)
Time: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ajagba 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Henry Lebron vs. William Foster III, junior lightweights
Prediction: Ajagba KO 5
Background: Ajagba continues to battle for a place among the top heavyweights. The 6-foot-6 Texas-based Nigerian has won three consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision to well-schooled Frank Sanchez in October 2021. The 29-year-old is coming off a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy on August 26, the result of numerous low blows by the Kazakhstani fighter. Goodall could be a dangerous opponent. The 6-foot-5½ Australian lost a near-shutout decision against countryman Justis Huni in June of last year but he bounced back to win two consecutive fights, including a sixth-round knockout of solid Stephen Shaw this past July. Shaw went the distance with Ajagba in a competitive fight six months earlier. Nine of Goodall’s victories have come by knockout.
JOE CORDINA (16-0, 9 KOs)
VS. EDUARD VAZQUEZ (15-1, 3 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo
Odds: Cordina 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Adrian Curiel, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title); Souleymane Cissokho vs. Isaias Lucero, junior middleweights; Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali, junior featherweights
Prediction: Cordina UD
Background: Cordina is scheduled to make his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian from Wales has had an up-down-up last year and a half. He won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt. He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22. The 31-year-old resident of Cardiff has said he’d like to face WBO beltholder Emanuel Navarrete. Of course, he must get past Vazquez first. The 28-year-old is a fringe contender from Fort Worth, Texas. He has won four consecutive fights since he lost a split decision to still-unbeaten Raymond Ford in February of last year, although he hasn’t faced top-level opposition. He last fought on July 29, when he defeated Brayan De Gracia by a unanimous decision.
YOKASTA VALLE (29-2, 9 KOs)
VS. ANABEL ORTIZ (33-5, 4 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Background: Valle, a major figure in her home country of Costa Rica, is one of the top women boxers in the world. The 31-year-old won the IBF strawweight title by outpointing Joana Pastrana in 2019 and has successfully defended nine times, adding the WBO belt by decisioning Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in September of last year. She’s coming off a near-shutout decision over Maria Micheo Santizo this past Sept. 16. Valley held the IBF atomweight (102 pounds) belt in 2016. She has won 16 consecutive fights since losing back-to-back bouts in 2017 and 2018. Ortiz is also accomplished. The 37-year-old Mexican had two reigns as a 105-pound champion before running into trouble in 2021, when she lost her WBA belt to Seniesa Estrada by a wide decision and failed in her bid to take Marlen Esparza’s 112-pound title in her next fight. She has won two bouts since, including a unanimous decision over Santizo a year ago.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba is in action against Joe Goodall. Meanwhile, Joe Cordina will defend his title against Eduard Vazquez.
FIGHT WEEK
Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will face hard-punching Joe Goodall on Saturday. On the same day, 130-pound champ Joe Cordina will defend his belt against Eduard Vazquez.
EFE AJAGBA (18-1, 13 KOs)
VS. JOE GOODALL (10-1-1, 9 KOs)
Time: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ajagba 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Henry Lebron vs. William Foster III, junior lightweights
Prediction: Ajagba KO 5
Background: Ajagba continues to battle for a place among the top heavyweights. The 6-foot-6 Texas-based Nigerian has won three consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision to well-schooled Frank Sanchez in October 2021. The 29-year-old is coming off a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy on August 26, the result of numerous low blows by the Kazakhstani fighter. Goodall could be a dangerous opponent. The 6-foot-5½ Australian lost a near-shutout decision against countryman Justis Huni in June of last year but he bounced back to win two consecutive fights, including a sixth-round knockout of solid Stephen Shaw this past July. Shaw went the distance with Ajagba in a competitive fight six months earlier. Nine of Goodall’s victories have come by knockout.
JOE CORDINA (16-0, 9 KOs)
VS. EDUARD VAZQUEZ (15-1, 3 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo
Odds: Cordina 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Adrian Curiel, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title); Souleymane Cissokho vs. Isaias Lucero, junior middleweights; Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali, junior featherweights
Prediction: Cordina UD
Background: Cordina is scheduled to make his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian from Wales has had an up-down-up last year and a half. He won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt. He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22. The 31-year-old resident of Cardiff has said he’d like to face WBO beltholder Emanuel Navarrete. Of course, he must get past Vazquez first. The 28-year-old is a fringe contender from Fort Worth, Texas. He has won four consecutive fights since he lost a split decision to still-unbeaten Raymond Ford in February of last year, although he hasn’t faced top-level opposition. He last fought on July 29, when he defeated Brayan De Gracia by a unanimous decision.
YOKASTA VALLE (29-2, 9 KOs)
VS. ANABEL ORTIZ (33-5, 4 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Background: Valle, a major figure in her home country of Costa Rica, is one of the top women boxers in the world. The 31-year-old won the IBF strawweight title by outpointing Joana Pastrana in 2019 and has successfully defended nine times, adding the WBO belt by decisioning Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in September of last year. She’s coming off a near-shutout decision over Maria Micheo Santizo this past Sept. 16. Valley held the IBF atomweight (102 pounds) belt in 2016. She has won 16 consecutive fights since losing back-to-back bouts in 2017 and 2018. Ortiz is also accomplished. The 37-year-old Mexican had two reigns as a 105-pound champion before running into trouble in 2021, when she lost her WBA belt to Seniesa Estrada by a wide decision and failed in her bid to take Marlen Esparza’s 112-pound title in her next fight. She has won two bouts since, including a unanimous decision over Santizo a year ago.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of a career-defining knockout of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in Poland.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST ERROR?
Referee Luis Pabon’s low-blow ruling
Referee Luis Pabon got it wrong. Challenger Daniel Dubois landed a body blow that put titleholder Oleksander Usyk down and hurt him badly in the fifth round of their fight Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, which initially appeared to be the punch of Dubois’ lifetime. Instead, Pabon ruled that it was a low blow and gave Usyk the time he needed to recover, after which he resumed his domination of Dubois and won by a ninth-round knockout to retain his titles. Was the punch illegal? In my opinion, no. I called respected California referee Jack Reiss to get a precise definition of a low blow. He suggested that you find the top of the hip bone – below the navel – and draw a line in your mind across the body. That’s the boundary. Reiss explained that if more than half the glove strays below that line, the referee is justified if he rules a low blow. Now look at the above photo, which shows where the punch landed. The top of the hip bone is at about the bottom of Usyk’s waist band, meaning the majority of the glove is clearly above the boundary line. Thus, my conclusion is that it was not a low blow. Had Pabon made the right call, Dubois would be a unified champion assuming Usyk would’ve been unable to beat a 10 count. As it is, Dubois was deprived of a career-defining victory and millions of dollars going forward. He and his team ad good reason to be devasted afterward.
BIGGEST WINNER
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk ultimately got the job done against Daniel Dubois. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images
Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Dubois – and to a smaller degree, his legacy – will always be tainted by the events of Saturday night at Stadion Wroclaw, which was filled with the champion’s Ukrainian countrymen. The majority of those who witnessed the fight seem to agree that Usyk was knocked out by an inferior opponent only to be given a second life by a referee who made the wrong call. And please don’t suggest that Usyk could’ve gotten to his feet had Pabon ruled the punch was legal and begun to count. He clearly couldn’t, based on what we saw immediately after he went down. Alas, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) received a precious gift from Pabon. And, of course, he wasn’t about to question the referee’s ruling. He recovered after about four minutes, got back to business and knocked out Dubois to retain his belts and possibly set up a lucrative showdown with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship this winter if the WBC beltholder gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28. Sometimes good fortune is as important as a fighter’s ability in a sport that can go wonky at times.
BIGGEST LOSER
Daniel Dubois
Daniel Dubois’ chances of winning came and went in Round 5. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images
Think about what a victory over Usyk would’ve meant to Dubois. He would’ve won the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, which would’ve put the 25-year-old Londoner in a position to face Usyk in a rematch or Fury in a massive event in Saudi Arabia. Either way, we’re talking a windfall – many millions of dollars – for Dubois. That’s gone, thanks to Pabon’s ruling. Instead, Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs) will have to get back in line with the other heavyweight contenders hoping to get a shot at one of the four major titles. And, of course, we can’t be certain that it will ever happen for him. Let’s face it: Aside from the fifth round, he didn’t look great on Saturday. He was outboxed and outworked by a far better fighter. And he went out with whimper. He went down in Round 8 as a result of a flurry of punches, one of which seemed to land on his temple. And he was stopped by a short right from his southpaw opponent in Round 9. It wasn’t an inglorious conclusion to what could’ve been his finest moment. Dubois can still improve; he’s only 25, after all. However, it’s possible that his best chance to become a world champion came and went on a strange night in Poland.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Jared Anderson
Jared Anderson was at his best on Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
The talented 23-year-old heavyweight contender couldn’t have performed much better than he did against rugged, but crude Andriy Rudenko on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He dominated his overmatched opponent with his jab and power punches thrown in overwhelming combinations, including a wicked body attack that broke down Rudenko and led to a fifth-round stoppage. Anderson looked sensational. Of course, our praise should be tempered. He was coming off a difficult fight against veteran Charles Martin, who hurt Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) and became the first to take him the distance. Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) was selected as the opponent so the rising young contender from Toledo, Ohio, could showcase his skills, make a strong statement and continue to grow as a fighter without facing a serious challenge. Mission accomplished. Anderson claimed the victory, looked good doing it and re-enforced the notion that he’s a legitimate candidate to become the next great heavyweight. Just give him time.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Pabon’s ruling on the phantom low blow arguably wasn’t his most disturbing moment during the fight. His strange behavior after he made the ruling was unprofessional. Usyk had taken a good portion of the five minutes allotted to recover when he clearly told Pabon he was prepared to resume fighting, saying, “I’m ready.” For some reason Pabon ignored the fighter and insisted that he take more time to recover. That’s inexplicable and inexcusable. It also bolsters the contention of Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren that Usyk benefitted from “a hometown decision.” Could Pabon have had a worse night? … The fifth-round of the Usyk-Dubois fight wasn’t the only strange element on Saturday. Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-1, 18 KOs) when the latter was disqualified in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-rounder for excessive holding. I’m not sure why Kossobutskiy bothered to show up. The matchup with Ajagba was a big opportunity for him and he tossed it in the trash, essentially quitting. Maybe his actions can be attributed to what analyst Tim Bradley said, that the fighter from Kazakhstan felt he was fighting both Ajagba and referee Chris Flores. I understand his frustration but a professional must focus on his work, not perceived slights on the part of officials. Another possibility is that Kossobutskiy realized he had no chance to win and simply wanted out.
Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of a career-defining knockout of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in Poland.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST ERROR?
Referee Luis Pabon’s low-blow ruling
Referee Luis Pabon got it wrong. Challenger Daniel Dubois landed a body blow that put titleholder Oleksander Usyk down and hurt him badly in the fifth round of their fight Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, which initially appeared to be the punch of Dubois’ lifetime. Instead, Pabon ruled that it was a low blow and gave Usyk the time he needed to recover, after which he resumed his domination of Dubois and won by a ninth-round knockout to retain his titles. Was the punch illegal? In my opinion, no. I called respected California referee Jack Reiss to get a precise definition of a low blow. He suggested that you find the top of the hip bone – below the navel – and draw a line in your mind across the body. That’s the boundary. Reiss explained that if more than half the glove strays below that line, the referee is justified if he rules a low blow. Now look at the above photo, which shows where the punch landed. The top of the hip bone is at about the bottom of Usyk’s waist band, meaning the majority of the glove is clearly above the boundary line. Thus, my conclusion is that it was not a low blow. Had Pabon made the right call, Dubois would be a unified champion assuming Usyk would’ve been unable to beat a 10 count. As it is, Dubois was deprived of a career-defining victory and millions of dollars going forward. He and his team ad good reason to be devasted afterward.
BIGGEST WINNER
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk ultimately got the job done against Daniel Dubois. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images
Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Dubois – and to a smaller degree, his legacy – will always be tainted by the events of Saturday night at Stadion Wroclaw, which was filled with the champion’s Ukrainian countrymen. The majority of those who witnessed the fight seem to agree that Usyk was knocked out by an inferior opponent only to be given a second life by a referee who made the wrong call. And please don’t suggest that Usyk could’ve gotten to his feet had Pabon ruled the punch was legal and begun to count. He clearly couldn’t, based on what we saw immediately after he went down. Alas, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) received a precious gift from Pabon. And, of course, he wasn’t about to question the referee’s ruling. He recovered after about four minutes, got back to business and knocked out Dubois to retain his belts and possibly set up a lucrative showdown with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship this winter if the WBC beltholder gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28. Sometimes good fortune is as important as a fighter’s ability in a sport that can go wonky at times.
BIGGEST LOSER
Daniel Dubois
Daniel Dubois’ chances of winning came and went in Round 5. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images
Think about what a victory over Usyk would’ve meant to Dubois. He would’ve won the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, which would’ve put the 25-year-old Londoner in a position to face Usyk in a rematch or Fury in a massive event in Saudi Arabia. Either way, we’re talking a windfall – many millions of dollars – for Dubois. That’s gone, thanks to Pabon’s ruling. Instead, Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs) will have to get back in line with the other heavyweight contenders hoping to get a shot at one of the four major titles. And, of course, we can’t be certain that it will ever happen for him. Let’s face it: Aside from the fifth round, he didn’t look great on Saturday. He was outboxed and outworked by a far better fighter. And he went out with whimper. He went down in Round 8 as a result of a flurry of punches, one of which seemed to land on his temple. And he was stopped by a short right from his southpaw opponent in Round 9. It wasn’t an inglorious conclusion to what could’ve been his finest moment. Dubois can still improve; he’s only 25, after all. However, it’s possible that his best chance to become a world champion came and went on a strange night in Poland.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Jared Anderson
Jared Anderson was at his best on Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
The talented 23-year-old heavyweight contender couldn’t have performed much better than he did against rugged, but crude Andriy Rudenko on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He dominated his overmatched opponent with his jab and power punches thrown in overwhelming combinations, including a wicked body attack that broke down Rudenko and led to a fifth-round stoppage. Anderson looked sensational. Of course, our praise should be tempered. He was coming off a difficult fight against veteran Charles Martin, who hurt Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) and became the first to take him the distance. Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) was selected as the opponent so the rising young contender from Toledo, Ohio, could showcase his skills, make a strong statement and continue to grow as a fighter without facing a serious challenge. Mission accomplished. Anderson claimed the victory, looked good doing it and re-enforced the notion that he’s a legitimate candidate to become the next great heavyweight. Just give him time.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Pabon’s ruling on the phantom low blow arguably wasn’t his most disturbing moment during the fight. His strange behavior after he made the ruling was unprofessional. Usyk had taken a good portion of the five minutes allotted to recover when he clearly told Pabon he was prepared to resume fighting, saying, “I’m ready.” For some reason Pabon ignored the fighter and insisted that he take more time to recover. That’s inexplicable and inexcusable. It also bolsters the contention of Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren that Usyk benefitted from “a hometown decision.” Could Pabon have had a worse night? … The fifth-round of the Usyk-Dubois fight wasn’t the only strange element on Saturday. Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-1, 18 KOs) when the latter was disqualified in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-rounder for excessive holding. I’m not sure why Kossobutskiy bothered to show up. The matchup with Ajagba was a big opportunity for him and he tossed it in the trash, essentially quitting. Maybe his actions can be attributed to what analyst Tim Bradley said, that the fighter from Kazakhstan felt he was fighting both Ajagba and referee Chris Flores. I understand his frustration but a professional must focus on his work, not perceived slights on the part of officials. Another possibility is that Kossobutskiy realized he had no chance to win and simply wanted out.
Weekend Review: Efe Ajagba’s uninspiring victory and a bizarre ending.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Efe Ajagba – The Nigerian heavyweight gave a so-so performance in a dull fight but he deserved his unanimous-decision victory over Stephan Shaw in a 10-round bout Saturday at Turning Point Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) simply outworked Shaw, throwing and landing more punches than his opponent (111 of 430 to 78 of 341, according to CompuBox). Hence the 96-94 score on all three cards. He now has won two consecutive fights since his momentum-crushing setback against Frank Sanchez in October 2021, after which he has surgery to repair damage in both of his elbows. Of course, Ajagba, once heralded as a future champion, will have to do more than he did against Shaw if he hopes to win a major title one day. Ninety of the 111 punches he landed were jabs, meaning he connected on an average of 2.1 power shots per round (to 3.0 for Shaw). He has a good jab but it takes more diversity than that to succeed at the highest level. Can the 28-year-old get there? Based on what I saw on Saturday, I’d be surprised. I just don’t see the all-around ability.
BIGGEST LOSER
Stephan Shaw – Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) blew the biggest opportunity of his career, which came about when Ajagba’s original opponent, Oscar Rivas, pulled out because of an eye injury and he was asked to step in a few weeks ago. The objective should be to seize such an opportunity, to give yourself every chance to emerge victorious by expended every ounce of your energy in the ring. Instead, Shaw fought passively, allowing Ajagba to outhustle him for most of the fight. And he still won four rounds, meaning a little more effort might’ve been enough for him to have his hand raised and his career changed. He’s quicker and more athletic than Ajagba. He might even be more skillful than the victor. He simply didn’t do the work, a fact that presumably will haunt him. The opportunity to fight a well-known opponent in a main event on national television (ESPN) doesn’t come around often. Shaw might never get such a chance again. All the 30-year-old from St. Louis can do now is learn from the disappointment and fight harder every time out going forward.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Jonathan Rice – Rice (16-6-1, 11 KOs) was more fortunate than effective against previously unbeaten Guido Vianello on the Ajagba-Shaw undercard. The 2016 Olympian from Italy outboxed and outworked Rice for most of six rounds of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout, taking a clear lead on the cards in the process. Then, in the seventh round, a right from Rice caused a massive gash above Vianello’s left eye that made it impossible for him to continue. Thus, Rice, a late replacement for Shaw, emerged with a technical knockout victory. Rice has good size and a lot of ability but he suffers from the same malady as Shaw, passivity. It’s easy for me to say from the safety of my office that fighters should take risks that could result in injury or unconsciousness but isn’t that part of the deal? Rice beat a second undefeated prospect in his last three fights, after taking down Michael Coffie in 2021 (and then doing it again in a rematch). If he wants to build on his recent success, he needs to push himself harder inside the ropes. Otherwise he’s going to waste his talent.
MOST BIZARRE
Rice-Vianello finish – You never know what boxing will throw at you. Referee Benjy Esteves initially ruled that the cut above Vianello’s eye was caused by a clash of heads, which would’ve sent the fight to the scorecards and given Vianello’s a victory. He was leading 59-55, 59-55 and 58-56. However, an official with the Oneida Indian Nation Athletic Commission, which oversaw the card, saw on replays that a punch caused the gash and in effect ordered Esteves to see for himself before a final decision would be made. That’s how Rice ended up with a TKO victory. The state of New York doesn’t use replay under any circumstances, which made the commission official’s decision intriguing. Does Oneida even have a replay rule? Doesn’t matter. The fact that officials arrived at the correct decision was gratifying. Other, more prominent commissions could learn from Oneida’s example.
Weekend Review: Efe Ajagba’s uninspiring victory and a bizarre ending.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Efe Ajagba – The Nigerian heavyweight gave a so-so performance in a dull fight but he deserved his unanimous-decision victory over Stephan Shaw in a 10-round bout Saturday at Turning Point Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) simply outworked Shaw, throwing and landing more punches than his opponent (111 of 430 to 78 of 341, according to CompuBox). Hence the 96-94 score on all three cards. He now has won two consecutive fights since his momentum-crushing setback against Frank Sanchez in October 2021, after which he has surgery to repair damage in both of his elbows. Of course, Ajagba, once heralded as a future champion, will have to do more than he did against Shaw if he hopes to win a major title one day. Ninety of the 111 punches he landed were jabs, meaning he connected on an average of 2.1 power shots per round (to 3.0 for Shaw). He has a good jab but it takes more diversity than that to succeed at the highest level. Can the 28-year-old get there? Based on what I saw on Saturday, I’d be surprised. I just don’t see the all-around ability.
BIGGEST LOSER
Stephan Shaw – Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) blew the biggest opportunity of his career, which came about when Ajagba’s original opponent, Oscar Rivas, pulled out because of an eye injury and he was asked to step in a few weeks ago. The objective should be to seize such an opportunity, to give yourself every chance to emerge victorious by expended every ounce of your energy in the ring. Instead, Shaw fought passively, allowing Ajagba to outhustle him for most of the fight. And he still won four rounds, meaning a little more effort might’ve been enough for him to have his hand raised and his career changed. He’s quicker and more athletic than Ajagba. He might even be more skillful than the victor. He simply didn’t do the work, a fact that presumably will haunt him. The opportunity to fight a well-known opponent in a main event on national television (ESPN) doesn’t come around often. Shaw might never get such a chance again. All the 30-year-old from St. Louis can do now is learn from the disappointment and fight harder every time out going forward.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Jonathan Rice – Rice (16-6-1, 11 KOs) was more fortunate than effective against previously unbeaten Guido Vianello on the Ajagba-Shaw undercard. The 2016 Olympian from Italy outboxed and outworked Rice for most of six rounds of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout, taking a clear lead on the cards in the process. Then, in the seventh round, a right from Rice caused a massive gash above Vianello’s left eye that made it impossible for him to continue. Thus, Rice, a late replacement for Shaw, emerged with a technical knockout victory. Rice has good size and a lot of ability but he suffers from the same malady as Shaw, passivity. It’s easy for me to say from the safety of my office that fighters should take risks that could result in injury or unconsciousness but isn’t that part of the deal? Rice beat a second undefeated prospect in his last three fights, after taking down Michael Coffie in 2021 (and then doing it again in a rematch). If he wants to build on his recent success, he needs to push himself harder inside the ropes. Otherwise he’s going to waste his talent.
MOST BIZARRE
Rice-Vianello finish – You never know what boxing will throw at you. Referee Benjy Esteves initially ruled that the cut above Vianello’s eye was caused by a clash of heads, which would’ve sent the fight to the scorecards and given Vianello’s a victory. He was leading 59-55, 59-55 and 58-56. However, an official with the Oneida Indian Nation Athletic Commission, which oversaw the card, saw on replays that a punch caused the gash and in effect ordered Esteves to see for himself before a final decision would be made. That’s how Rice ended up with a TKO victory. The state of New York doesn’t use replay under any circumstances, which made the commission official’s decision intriguing. Does Oneida even have a replay rule? Doesn’t matter. The fact that officials arrived at the correct decision was gratifying. Other, more prominent commissions could learn from Oneida’s example.
Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba outworked Stephan Shaw to win a unanimous decision Saturday in New York.
Efe Ajagba did the work. And he was rewarded.
Neither he nor opponent Stephan Shaw landed many eye-catching punches but Ajagba generally was the more-aggressive, busier fighter in their 10-round bout on Saturday at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
As a result, the heavyweight prospect left the ring with a unanimous-decision victory, his second consecutive win since he lost to Frank Sanchez.
All three judges scored it 96-94, six rounds to four for Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs).
Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) was handed the biggest opportunity of his career when he was offered a place in a main event on ESPN a few weeks after Ajagba’s original opponent, Oscar Rivas, pulled out with an eye injury.
However, the product of St. Louis didn’t fight with the urgency one would expect in such a situation.
In fact, it was Ajagba who pushed the action most of the fight and threw more punches. The 6-foot-6 Nigerian essentially won the decision with his long jab, which he landed consistently from beginning to end.
Shaw also jabbed well at times and landed a handful of power shots, but he fought on his back foot and let Ajagba dictate the action.
Ajagba landed almost twice as many jabs as Shaw did, 90-48, according to CompuBox.
“I went back to the corner and they told me to let my hands go, keep throwing punches, my jab,” Ajagba said. “I controlled the fight, so that’s how I won the fight. 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.”
Ajagba was one of the hottest young heavyweights in the world when he lost a one-sided decision to Sanchez in October 2021, after which he had surgery to repair injuries in both elbows and took time to heal.
He returned to stop relative unknown Jozsef Darmos in two rounds this past August. And now he has a victory over the capable Shaw under his belt, which could lift the 28-year-old back into the rankings and a step closer to title contention.
