Francis Ajuonuma with agency reports
Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba has revealed that the pip talks he received from his corner spurred him to victory in Saturday’s heavyweight contest against previously unbeaten Stephan Shaw.
The 10 rounds challenge contest held at Turning Stone Resort Casino ended in a unanimous decision of 96-94, 96-94 and 96-94 in favour of Ajagba, who now moves closer to a shot at a world title.
Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) won his second straight bout since a 2021 decision defeat to Frank Sanchez, which took place on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder trilogy card.
After that fight, he had surgeries on both elbows and has re-established himself as a contender to watch. Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) was ahead 58-56 on all three judges’ cards after the sixth but was outlanded 62-37 in the last four rounds.
Nigeria, and those NSCDC Officers, by Prince Charles Dickson
In a battle of jabs, Ajagba landed his with more frequency (90-48).
“I went back to the corner and they told me to let my hands go, keep throwing punches, my jab. I controlled the fight, so that’s how I won the fight,” Ajagba said.
“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 is now in the mix for potential fights against two highly rated contenders from the UK – WBA “regular” champion Daniel Dubois and WBO interim-champion Joe Joyce. Top Rank, who promote Ajagba, have a close relationship with veteran promoter Frank Warren, who guides the careers of Dubois and Joyce.
