BoxRec

Shaw Replaces Rivas, To Fight Ajagba In ESPN Main Event 1/14; Vianello-Rice In Co-Feature

Stephan Shaw has accepted a more daunting assignment than he had for January 14.

St. Louis’ Shaw was scheduled to box unbeaten Italian heavyweight prospect Guido Vianello in ESPN’s 10-round co-feature that night at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. BS.com has learned, though, that Shaw instead has agreed to replace injured Oscar Rivas in the 10-round main event versus Efe Ajagba.

Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs) is now expected to fight American veteran Jonnie Rice in ESPN’s co-feature January 14.

Los Angeles’ Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) has beaten previously undefeated Michael Coffie (13-3, 10 KOs) in back-to-back bouts, but he hasn’t fought since his 10-round, unanimous-decision victory over Brooklyn’s Coffie in their immediate rematch January 1 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Rice stopped Coffie in the fifth round of their first fight, which took place in July 2021 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Matchmakers for Top Rank Inc., which co-promotes Ajagba and Shaw, turned to Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs, 1 NC) once Rivas withdrew from the Ajagba bout on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Rivas (28-1, 19 KOs) suffered retina damage during a sparring session recently and was forced to pull out of what was slated to be his most challenging bout since Dillian Whyte defeated the Colombian-born, Montreal-based contender by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder in July 2019 at O2 Arena in London.

Shaw was committed to taking tougher, more visible fights on ESPN after Top Rank signed him to a co-promotional agreement with DiBella Entertainment 11 months ago. In Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs), Shaw will encounter a hard-hitting opponent who has lost only a 10-round unanimous decision to unbeaten Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (21-0, 14 KOs) in October 2021 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 30-year-old Shaw most recently defeated Detroit’s Rydell Booker (27-7-1, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight-rounder November 22 at Edison Ballroom in New York.

Ajagba, 28, will fight for the second time since Sanchez dropped him in the seventh round and outpointed him on all three scorecards 14 months ago. The 2016 Nigerian Olympian stopped Hungary’s Jozsef Darmos (14-6-3, 10 KOs) in the second round of his last fight, which took place August 27 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We will need a Don't know/don't care option lol

Shaw to pull off the (albeit not massive) upset here.

I like this, they did a good job setting up contingency fights. Both fights are good.

Let's see if they actually happen now lol

The winners should fight each other too, but maybe I'm dreaming, that makes too much sense

this worked out well, 2 good fights still

Shaw v ajagba should be a nice little match up

Press Release

Ajagba-Shaw & Guido Vianello-Jonnie Rice heavyweight doubleheader will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Shaw replaces Oscar Rivas, who was forced to withdraw with an injury

The matchups have changed, but a high-octane heavyweight doubleheader will still go down Saturday, Jan. 14, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

In the 10-round main event, Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba will now take on St. Louis native Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw. Oscar Rivas was originally slated to fight Ajagba but had to withdraw with an eye injury.

Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello, who was scheduled to fight Shaw in the co-feature, will now face the upset-minded Jonnie Rice in a 10-rounder.

Ajagba-Shaw and Vianello-Rice will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ and includes a 10-round junior lightweight tilt between Adam “BluNose” Lopez and Abraham “El Super” Nova.

“Stephan Shaw stepped up and has a tough task against one of the division’s biggest punchers in Efe Ajagba,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We’re pleased that Guido will remain on the card against a formidable opponent in ­Jonnie Rice. This will be a fantastic heavyweight doubleheader at Turning Stone.”

Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) went 3-0 with two stoppages in 2022, including a shutout eight-round decision over Rydell Booker in November. Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) is one of the heavyweight division’s hardest punchers and is coming off a second-round stoppage over Jozsef Darmos in August.

Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs), a 2016 Italian Olympian from Rome, has won three fights since a 2020 draw to Kingsley Ibeh. Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) has faced a host of heavyweight hopefuls, including Ajagba and Shaw. Following back-to-back losses in 2020, Rice re-energized his career with a fifth-round TKO over then-unbeaten prospect Michael Coffie in July 2021. He repeated the deed on New Year’s Day, outlasting Coffie via a 10-round unanimous decision.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets priced from $49 to $89 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

# # #

About Turning Stone Resort Casino
Host of the January 14th event, Turning Stone Resort Casino is a Forbes Four-Star Award-winning destination resort, which continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for major boxing events that are broadcast around the world. Boxing legends including Oscar De Lay Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Mike Tyson, Laila Ali and many others, have all taken part in boxing events at Turning Stone over the years.

Turning Stone is the Official Resort Casino of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, an international event celebrating boxing legends and current superstars in the sport. Throughout the year, Turning Stone and the Boxing Hall of Fame attract thousands of boxing fans, Hall of Famers and sports media to the region for a series of boxing events at Turning Stone that culminate with the International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, annually the biggest and most star-studded weekend in all of boxing. This year’s International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend will take place from June 8 – 11.

Turning Stone features world-class amenities including The Lounge with Caesars Sports, a state-of-the-art sports book in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, five hotels, more than 20 signature dining options, two spas, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, multiple entertainment venues, five golf courses, and several bars and lounges offering live entertainment every weekend.

Vianello is ok but nothing special. He pretty much found his level against the tough jay macfarlane.

Rice, like Mulowiyi, is much better then his record suggests but the usual problem of inactivity will be the key here.

Press Release | Bruce Carrington Added To Ajagba vs. Shaw Card in Verona, NY

Rising featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, the latest fistic prodigy from Brownsville, Brooklyn, hopes to open his 2023 campaign with a flourish.

Carrington will fight Juan Antonio Lopez in a six-round showdown Saturday, Jan. 14, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Carrington-Lopez and the rest of the undercard will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+. The ESPN-televised heavyweight doubleheader (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) is headlined by a crossroads battle between Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba and Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw, and 2016 Italian Olympian Guido "The Gladiator" Vianello stepping up against Jonnie Rice in the co-feature.

Carrington (5-0, 3 KOs), the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, flourished in his first full year as a pro. He went 4-0 with a pair of knockouts, including highlight-reel finishes over Steven Brown and Yeuri Andujar. Carrington was scheduled to fight December 10 at Madison Square Garden, but his opponent had a medical issue that scrapped the bout. He makes his 2023 debut against Lopez (17-12-1, 7 KOs), an 11-year pro from Dallas, Texas, who has tested many of the sport’s top featherweight and junior lightweight prospects.

Carrington said, “I had an exciting 2022, but it’s time to step on the gas even more in 2023 and take over the featherweight division. I can’t wait to put my hands on somebody because I couldn’t fight on December 10. This is going to be a huge year, and it starts on January 14.”

Fight Week!!

Actually am quite interested in this one.
Would like and expect Shaw to win and eventually scrape Top 15 and be a tough day's work for those above him.

If Shaw puts on a dominating performance, there is an argument for him to squeak into our top #15.
Thing is, I still see this as 50/50 so looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

This is 50/50.

Shaw could win this.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:06 If Shaw puts on a dominating performance, there is an argument for him to squeak into our top #15.
Thing is, I still see this as 50/50 so looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

how? why? by beating ajagba? shaw is 28, efe 32? no matter the ranking system you look at, it just doesn't add up, don't be silly kiwi!

adislav123 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:15

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:06 If Shaw puts on a dominating performance, there is an argument for him to squeak into our top #15.
Thing is, I still see this as 50/50 so looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

how? why? by beating ajagba? shaw is 28, efe 32? no matter the ranking system you look at, it just doesn't add up, don't be silly kiwi!

If any lower Top 15 HW is brave enough to take him on then turn up less than 100% focused then SS may profit then crash into that echelon.

adislav123 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:15

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:06 If Shaw puts on a dominating performance, there is an argument for him to squeak into our top #15.
Thing is, I still see this as 50/50 so looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

how? why? by beating ajagba? shaw is 28, efe 32? no matter the ranking system you look at, it just doesn't add up, don't be silly kiwi!

If he dominates and stops him, it's a fairly good win. A better win than Frank the Cuban Flash and he is on our top 15. So at a time when no one in the HW division is doing anything, there could be an argument for Shaw to squeak in at #15.
Let's face it, Hrg and Chisora round out the top #15... Frank Sanchez is at #11 and his best win was a KD and a cruise to a points win over Ajagba

Yeh the lower of the top 15 are slacking

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:30

adislav123 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:15

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:06 If Shaw puts on a dominating performance, there is an argument for him to squeak into our top #15.
Thing is, I still see this as 50/50 so looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

how? why? by beating ajagba? shaw is 28, efe 32? no matter the ranking system you look at, it just doesn't add up, don't be silly kiwi!

If he dominates and stops him, it's a fairly good win. A better win than Frank the Cuban Flash and he is on our top 15. So at a time when no one in the HW division is doing anything, there could be an argument for Shaw to squeak in at #15.
Let's face it, Hrg and Chisora round out the top #15... Frank Sanchez is at #11 and his best win was a KD and a cruise to a points win over Ajagba

He wouldn't be far off tbh. These are those ranked 9-15 by the forum:
- Ortiz (best recent win is Martin)
- Sanchez (best recent win is Ajagba)
- Wallin (best recent win is Breazeale)
- Pulev (best recent win Forrest and a loss to Chisora)
- Hrgovic (best recent win is Zhang)
- Chisora (best recent win is Pulev)

Other options?
- Dubois (best recent win is Dinu?)
- Yoka (best recent win is Milas)
- Makhmudov (best recent win is Takam)
- Anderson (best recent win is Forrest)

And the only scheduled fights in the top 50 are:
- Parker Vs Massey
- Kabayel Vs Smakici
- Opelu Vs Terzievski

Who else is there to even choose from?

joshj909 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 17:32

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:30

adislav123 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:15

how? why? by beating ajagba? shaw is 28, efe 32? no matter the ranking system you look at, it just doesn't add up, don't be silly kiwi!

If he dominates and stops him, it's a fairly good win. A better win than Frank the Cuban Flash and he is on our top 15. So at a time when no one in the HW division is doing anything, there could be an argument for Shaw to squeak in at #15.
Let's face it, Hrg and Chisora round out the top #15... Frank Sanchez is at #11 and his best win was a KD and a cruise to a points win over Ajagba

He wouldn't be far off tbh. These are those ranked 9-15 by the forum:
- Ortiz (best recent win is Martin)
- Sanchez (best recent win is Ajagba)
- Wallin (best recent win is Breazeale)
- Pulev (best recent win Forrest and a loss to Chisora)
- Hrgovic (best recent win is Zhang)
- Chisora (best recent win is Pulev)

Other options?
- Dubois (best recent win is Dinu?)
- Yoka (best recent win is Milas)
- Makhmudov (best recent win is Takam)
- Anderson (best recent win is Forrest)

And the only scheduled fights in the top 50 are:
- Parker Vs Massey
- Kabayel Vs Smakici
- Opelu Vs Terzievski

Who else is there to even choose from?

Thanks for putting it in perspective Josh
Yes, a dominant win and stoppage could be an argument for inclusion in our top #15.
Although, as I posted, I still see this as a 50/50 fight. So it would bs some surprise for Shaw to do a real number on Aggie

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 19:06

joshj909 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 17:32

KiwiRider wrote: ↑13 Jan 2023, 15:30

If he dominates and stops him, it's a fairly good win. A better win than Frank the Cuban Flash and he is on our top 15. So at a time when no one in the HW division is doing anything, there could be an argument for Shaw to squeak in at #15.
Let's face it, Hrg and Chisora round out the top #15... Frank Sanchez is at #11 and his best win was a KD and a cruise to a points win over Ajagba

He wouldn't be far off tbh. These are those ranked 9-15 by the forum:
- Ortiz (best recent win is Martin)
- Sanchez (best recent win is Ajagba)
- Wallin (best recent win is Breazeale)
- Pulev (best recent win Forrest and a loss to Chisora)
- Hrgovic (best recent win is Zhang)
- Chisora (best recent win is Pulev)

Other options?
- Dubois (best recent win is Dinu?)
- Yoka (best recent win is Milas)
- Makhmudov (best recent win is Takam)
- Anderson (best recent win is Forrest)

And the only scheduled fights in the top 50 are:
- Parker Vs Massey
- Kabayel Vs Smakici
- Opelu Vs Terzievski

Who else is there to even choose from?

Thanks for putting it in perspective Josh
Yes, a dominant win and stoppage could be an argument for inclusion in our top #15.
Although, as I posted, I still see this as a 50/50 fight. So it would bs some surprise for Shaw to do a real number on Aggie

are they all in the top 15 for (only) their 'best recent win'?

i get your argumentation, based on 'best recent win' it might be close, still i can't see how efe beating shaw would put him (even in discussion for) top 15.

adislav123 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2023, 06:50
are they all in the top 15 for (only) their 'best recent win'?

i get your argumentation, based on 'best recent win' it might be close, still i can't see how efe beating shaw would put him (even in discussion for) top 15.

For the most part, yes. Most of them don't have a worthwhile win other than that one best recent win. Others have similar, but not standout, wins which are at least 3 years old. I agree with you that depth of resume comes into play when assessing them overall but when it's just journeymen and one decent name you can only really consider that one decent name.

joshj909 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2023, 09:33

adislav123 wrote: ↑14 Jan 2023, 06:50
are they all in the top 15 for (only) their 'best recent win'?

i get your argumentation, based on 'best recent win' it might be close, still i can't see how efe beating shaw would put him (even in discussion for) top 15.

For the most part, yes. Most of them don't have a worthwhile win other than that one best recent win. Others have similar, but not standout, wins which are at least 3 years old. I agree with you that depth of resume comes into play when assessing them overall but when it's just journeymen and one decent name you can only really consider that one decent name.

exactly what u said last, no argument there and it just isn't enuff to enter top 15.

btw, what's frank sanchez who'd be the one to go first if efe enters, (he's 15 right?) best win? more or less recent?