Ajagba Edges Shaw by Decision, Cut Eye Leads to Rice Shocking TKO Upset of Vianello
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Verona, NY (January 15th, 2023)– In a defensive jabbing war, Efe Ajagba outworked and edged late 18-0 opponent Stephan Shaw in a ten-round heavyweight defensive gem, in the ESPN Top Rank main event on Saturday night, January 15, 2023, at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
Ajagba, 17-1 with 13 knockouts, Stafford, Texas, by way of Nigeria, threw more punches and landed more overall, while Shaw, 18-1 with 13 knockouts, Saint Louis, Missouri, a four-time amateur champion, simply did not floor the gas pedal and take chances to win. If Shaw had one only one more round, the bout would have been a draw. The judges scored the quiet televised bout 96-94, 96-94, and 96-94. Scoring appeared neutral and fair, but closer than the bout appeared. Shaw remained cautious for all 10 rounds, and appeared unwilling to take chances at any point during the contest. The taller Ajagba, as the aggressor, stayed busier and set the bout’s tempo to clearly win. Ajagba did not win by much. The bout was as boring and drawish as Trevor Berbick versus Muhammad Ali over 40 years ago. Neither combatant offered a significant offensive game, or a significant ‘Plan B’. Ajagba was busier and that was the difference. Scoring appeared neutral and fair, and there was not much to judge on.
In a preliminary bout to the main event, rough tough heavyweight veteran Jonathan Rice, inactive over a year after his two back to back upsets wins over previously undefeated Michael Polite Coffie, scored a controversial bizarre seventh-round TKO win over 2016 Olympic heavyweight competitor Guido Vianello of Italy, to deal Vianello his first loss, but it required a commission official overruling referee Benjy Esteves.
Rice, 16-6-1 with eleven knockouts, Los Angeles, California, remained defensive for most of the first six rounds against Vianello, 10-1-1 with nine knockouts, when an overhand right by Race opened up a nasty forehead cut on Vianello on the right eyebrow in the sixth. The skin was wide open. The cut could not be controlled, and with free flow blood and the forehead gash huge and wide open, the ringside doctor stopped the contest.
Referee Benjy Esteves Jr. claimed the cut was caused by a head butt when the action had to be stopped in the seventh round, though nothing about a butt was stated in the sixth round by the referee or Vianello to the examining ringside physician. When Estevez suddenly claimed a head butt had occurred and threatened to send the bout to the cards, a ringside official came to ringside and disagreed, saying he saw a punch, and directed referee Estevez to a ringside monitor and the ringside commentator for instant replay, where the punch thrown by Rice was clear, a powerful straight right-hand lead. Estevez then declared the bout a seventh-round TKO win for Rice at 0:40 of the seventh round.
In the other preliminary bout to the main event, lightweight Abraham ‘Super Nova’ recorded knockdowns of Adam Lopez in round five and six en route to a ten-round unanimous decision win. Nova and Lopez appeared to win five rounds each on punches landed in the round, but Nova landed more overall, and the knockdowns put him over the top, including the close rounds. Nova scored with short punches inside, though Lopez had a good defense that was hard to penetrate.
Nova, 22-1 with 15 knockouts, Albany, New York, dropped Lopez with a short right onto his back in the fifth round. In the sixth, Nova appeared to push Lopez to the canvas after Lopez tried to grab on, counted as a knockdown by referee Mark Nelson, who claimed Lopez had gotten hit before he tried to grab on. It was a push, however, and Lopez did not have the benefit of the instant replay in losing a 10-8 round. The sixth-round knockdown, despite being credited to Nova incorrectly, would not have changed the outcome of the bout.
There was nothing on this boxing card that either allowed for or designated the act of instant replay and the inconsistency of why Jonathan Rice was allowed to benefit from the instant replay, while Adam Lopez was not, was highlighted. If the referee was operating by the established rule of the ring for the event, to what extent could the commission and its ringside officials overrule him? To what extent could one fighter benefit, and another not?
Trainer Jaron Ennis Sr. protégé Haven Brady Jr. scored an eight-round decision over Ruben Cervera in a lightweight contest. Brady, 9-0 with four knockouts, Albany, Georgia, jabbed and outworked Cervera, 13-4 with eleven knockouts, Santa Maria, Columbia. Cervera pressured Brady at times with jabs and hooks, but Brady was more effective, switching to the southpaw stance at times and landing the more effective blows. Cervera just was not busy enough, though he had his moments.
Undercard Bout Results, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington Win 6 Juan Antonio Lopez, Featherweights (60-54 x 3)
6-0 Brooklyn prospect Carrington boxed carefully with 31-bout Mexican veteran Lopez.
Brian Norman Jr. Win 8 Rodrigo Damian Coria, Welterweights
23-0 Georgia prospect Norman, in TV debut, underestimated 10-5 Argentinian Coria.
After a first round dominated by Norman which Coria survived, Coria displayed a great defense and footwork, giving Norman trouble, and winning some rounds. Norman, a better technical fighter, dropped Coria in the eighth, who came back to hurt him near the end.
Bryce Mills Win 6 Margarito Hernandez, Super Lightweights (60-54 x 3)
11-1 area prospect Mills, backed with 800 fans, dominated 3-4-1 journeyman Hernandez.
Dante Benjamin Jr. TKO 1 Emmanuel Austin, Light Heavyweights (2:50)
In battle of unbeaten prospects, Benjamin appeared to score TKO punching off the break.
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