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Ajagba vs. Shaw, Vianello vs. Rice, Top Rank ESPN Turning Stone Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Verona, NY ( January 13th, 2023)– Heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Stephan Shaw will headline a televised Top Rank ESPN, ESPN + and ESPN Deportes boxing card at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, in Verona, New York, on Saturday night, January 14, 2023. The undefeated Shaw is a late replacement for World Boxing Council Bridgerweight World champion Oscar Rivas, who incurred a detached retina in training for his heavyweight bout, and is now a champion in recess as the WBC vacated his junior heavyweight world title for inability to defend it.
In the heavyweight preliminary to the main event, 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro participant Guido Vianello, Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Rome, Italy, 10-0-1 with nine knockouts, will face veteran spoiler Jonathan Rice, 15-6-1 with 10 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, coming off of two upset wins over the previously undefeated Michael Polite Coffie. Rice, who lost a 10 rounder to Efe Ajagba, and lost a six rounder to Stephan Shaw in 2016, promises to make a technical battle in a long drawn out affair. Rice is favored by upset 10 round decision Vianello has not fought anybody of note, nor has he gone past eight rounds.
The 10 round heavyweight main event bout between Ajagba, 16-1 with 13 knockouts, Stafford, Texas by way of Nigeria, and David McWater fighter Shaw, 18-0 with 13 knockouts, Saint Louis, Missouri, is predicted to end in a majority draw, or majority decision or split decision which could go either way. Knockouts could affect scoring.
In a featured preliminary bout, Brooklyn featherweight sensation Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, 5-0, three knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, faces hot and cold veteran southpaw Juan Antonio Lopez, 17-12-1 with seven knockouts, Dallas, Texas, by way of Mexico, in a scheduled six rounder. Carrington is predicted to win by six round unanimous decision.
In a Welterweight confrontation, rising knockout artist sensation Brian ‘The Assassin II’ Norman Jr., 22-0 with 19 knockouts, Conyers, Georgia, whose record includes 13 first round knockouts, will face southpaw Rodrigo Damian ‘El Zurdo’ Coria, 10-4 with two knockouts, Corboba, Argentina. In 2021, Coria scored two 10 round decision upsets on technical skill. Coria won a 10 round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Jose Alberto Vargas, and a 10 split decision over 16-2 Adrian Marcelo Sasso to win the South American Super Welterweight title. Since Coria is a super welterweight, he will be stronger at the lower 147 pounds welterweight limit. Norman is predicted to win by eight round unanimous decision.
For Efe Ajagba, whose record includes a 10 round loss to undefeated Cuban heavyweight prospect Frank Sanchez, this crossroads bout will determine the next steps in his career. For Stephan Shaw, this late opportunity bout is the chance of a lifetime. Given the history of ‘B’ side fighters at Turning Stone, though, it seems more likely Shaw will have to stop Ajagba, knock him out, or knock him down and outwork him impressively to get the scorecards. It will be tough, and Shaw is relatively untested as yet. Shaw will have to prove his undefeated record is for real. Overall, this is the best matchup in the heavyweight division in 2023 thus far. Dmitriy Salita fighter Otto Wallin has called out Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder versus Andy Ruiz Jr. is rumored in the works for later in 2023. Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk is a possibility. Ajagba versus Shaw kick starts the 2023 televised heavyweight contender parade, and it promises to be an evenly matched great 10 rounder.
Turning Stone Resort & Casino Verona Undercard Predictions, Other Scheduled Bouts
Abraham Nova Win Split Decision 10 Adam Lopez, Super Featherweights
VERONA, N.Y. (Jan. 12, 2023) — 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.
“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.”
“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.”
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].
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