Efe Ajagba vs. Ali Eren Demirezen - July 20, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rising unbeaten heavyweight sensation and 2016 Nigerian Olympian Efe Ajagba will square off against undefeated 2016 Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen in FOX PBC Fight Night action and on FOX Deportes Saturday, July 20 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The 10-round heavyweight attraction will feature two 2016 Olympians putting their unbeaten records on the line as they look to make a statement in the red-hot division. FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and is headlined by undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Caleb "Sweethands" Plant making the first defense of his title against unbeaten contender Mike Lee.

FOX PBC Fight Night will precede the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View event beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT that also takes place at MGM Grand featuring eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao facing WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in the main event.

Tickets for the event, which is presented by TGB Promotions and Sweethands Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office. The Ajagba vs. Demirezen match is being promoted in association with Ringstar Sports.

"Saturday, July 20th is the biggest night of boxing I can remember," said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. "The entire card top to bottom is toe-to-toe action with evenly matched fights featuring the most entertaining fighters in the world displaying their talent. I am sure several of the fights that night will be immediate Fight of the Year candidates. It is only fitting that the most talked about young heavyweight, Efe Ajagba, will be part of this Boxing-Extravaganza. Efe is simply put the definition of must-see TV. His opponent, Ali Demirezen, is undefeated in 11 fights with 10 of them by knockout. It will be two undefeated big punchers putting it all on the line, that is PBC boxing at its best!"

Ughelli, Nigeria's Ajagba (10-0, 9 KOs) gained notoriety last August 24 when his opponent, Curtis Harper, walked out of the ring after touching gloves to start the first round. The 24-year-old won the fight without throwing a punch as Harper was disqualified live on FS1. Ajagba, who lives in Stafford, Texas and trains with Ronnie Shields, has steadily increased his competition in his two fights this year, stopping Amir Mansour on FOX in March in two rounds, before disposing of Michael Wallisch in April in two rounds as well.

"My goal is clear: I want to be heavyweight champion of the world," said Ajagba. "To get there I must continue to take on anyone and for the third time in my career it is another undefeated heavyweight. As they say 'somebody's o must go,' and it won't be mine. There's no better platform for this performance than on the biggest boxing night of the year. The stage is set...don't blink!"

Unbeaten since turning pro after the 2016 Olympics, Demirezen (11-0, 10 KOs) has fought out of Hamburg, Germany in the professional ranks and will make his U.S. debut on July 20. The 29-year-old most recently defended his European heavyweight title against Adnan Redzovic in April, winning by disqualification and matching Ajagba with a perfect knockout rate minus one DQ.

"I'm very happy to make my U.S. debut versus a really good fighter like Efe Ajagba,'' said Demirezen. "I'm very focused on that fight and being in the best shape ever to make a statement. I plan to have a great performance in Las Vegas because I know the U.S. boxing fans like real fighters. I'm sure they will love me after the fight.''

[Ruthless-RKO]

What a fight.

And WHAT a card this is turning out to be. POV worthy!

[dagilechia]

well, this is actually a decent fight for Ajagba at this stage of career.

[jamamb]

demirezin knocked out yoka in wsb

[oogiebe]

Decent matchup. Ali Eren Demirezen is tough looking fighter, so a good test for Ajagba. A ko for Efe would be a terrific scalp. Hopefully Efe won't underestimate Demirezen who should be in the pocket for Efe throughout.

Certainly makes the card even better! Is this for the WBO European HW Title?

[dagilechia]

Decent matchup. Ali Eren Demirezen is tough looking fighter, so a good test for Ajagba. A ko for Efe would be a terrific scalp. Hopefully Efe won't underestimate Demirezen who should be in the pocket for Efe throughout.

Certainly makes the card even better! Is this for the WBO European HW Title?

Ajagba's not European though. and this fight is not even in Europe.

[oogiebe]

Ajagba's not European though. and this fight is not even in Europe.

I know that, but Demirezen holds the belt last I looked.

[dagilechia]

I know that, but Demirezen holds the belt last I looked.

he had to fight for it vs Ugonoh but the event was cancelled. then this belt was at stake in a Hammer vs Wallisch fight. but maybe the last fight Demirezen had vs some unknown guy was for this belt as well?

[oogiebe]

he had to fight for it vs Ugonoh but the event was cancelled. then this belt was at stake in a Hammer vs Wallisch fight. but maybe the last fight Demirezen had vs some unknown guy was for this belt as well?

his fight with Redzovic was for this belt.

[Betro09]

I am surprised to see this match-up. Ali has to finish him off if he wants to achieve anything. After all, he’s the one with a more serious amateur experience. Ajagba is very big and it will be difficult to catch him tough.

But Ali Eren is no joke.

Answer for above: he beat Adnan Redzoviç for vacant title.

[oogiebe]

I am surprised to see this match-up. Ali has to finish him off if he wants to achieve anything. After all, he’s the one with a more serious amateur experience. Ajagba is very big and it will be difficult to catch him tough.

But Ali Eren is no joke.

Answer for above: he beat Adnan Redzoviç for vacant title.

I think he's a tough out. Somewhat surprised Ajagba's camp made the matchup, but I'm a bit conservative with prospects and they know better than me, so his camp must think he'll win and learn something in the ring. I think it'll be a scrap.

[dagilechia]

his fight with Redzovic was for this belt.

lol this belt makes no sense then

[oogiebe]

lol this belt makes no sense then

Demirezen, not Ajagba. As it's in the US and Efe from Africa, you're right that the belt won't be up for grabs.

[dagilechia]

Demirezen, not Ajagba. As it's in the US and Efe from Africa, you're right that the belt won't be up for grabs.

i mean, it makes no sense because Demirezen had it back in 2018, then Hammer got it, then Dubois, now Demirezen again, nobody ever defended this belt it seems

[oogiebe]

i mean, it makes no sense because Demirezen had it back in 2018, then Hammer got it, then Dubois, now Demirezen again, nobody ever defended this belt it seems

I don't track that belt. Only majors for me. I imagine with fighters not staying regional fight to fight it gets hard to track.

[Best Coast]

I'm going with Ajagba in this one by hard-fought, competitive decision. Should be a good matchup with Demirizen, who has fought tougher pro opposition than Efe has.

But here are a few videos of Ajagba's toughest foe so far, Rodney Hernandez. The 13-7-2 Mexican-American just scored a 1st-round TKO of 17-0 Nigerian Onoriode Ehwarieme last Saturday on the Alexander-Redkach undercard. The 2nd video shows Hernandez absorbing 5 rounds worth of Ajagba's best shots without going down. Rodney took more solid power shots from Ajagba than all of Efe's 9 other opponents combined (and landed more too). The ref stopped it in the 5th with Hernandez out on his feet, marking the only time Rodney has ever been stopped.

[Lackeos]

Demirezen has lost more fights than he's won against noteworthy names in the amateurs. But even so, he has a TKO win over Yoka and a 3-0 decision win against Joe Joyce.

This match-up is very good. Ajagba is the favorite, but this fight is certainly not a walkover.

[candyslim]

Fully agree with that. It's an ambitious match against an opponent with ambitions of his own

I picked Efe to win though based on his frightening power, but I wouldn't be shocked if Demirezen were to spring an upset.

[morm]

Huh Yeah a real deal :)

very close, my tip Demirezen SD

[12raund]

Ali Eren Demirezen is Turkish Heavyweight Career Record 11-0-0

Ali Eren News

https://12raund.org/ali-eren-demirezen

Last match Ali Eren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQf389WqiQ

[joshj909]

Very interested in this and i hope the winner is credited with a decent win rather than "just a win over a novice-pro". Fair play for them both for being willing to risk their zero early on against this level of opposition.

[jamamb]

rodneys a tough cat for sure

[oogiebe]

Dangerous fight for both fellas. Really tough and experienced fighter in Demirezen. Part of me thinks Ajagba is biting off more than he will be able to swallow.

[pound per pound]

Dangerous fight for both fellas. Really tough and experienced fighter in Demirezen. Part of me thinks Ajagba is biting off more than he will be able to swallow.

Ajagaba might be a tad stiff and need work on defense. But that right hand of his set up by a jab is a punch few can take,

So I think he'll win inside 6 rounds.

[oogiebe]

Ajagaba might be a tad stiff and need work on defense. But that right hand of his set up by a jab is a punch few can take,

So I think he'll win inside 6 rounds.

No one campaigns on BoxRec for Efe more than I do, but he is still learning and this guy is a real threat. I hope you're right.