Ajagba-Rivas and Vianello-Shaw announced as doubleheader for Jan. 14

The Prime Rank on ESPN 2023 sequence kicks off with a heavyweight doubleheader Saturday, Jan. 14, at Turning Stone Resort On line casino in Verona, New York.

The ten-round essential occasion is a battle of big-punching Olympians, as Efe “The Silent Curler” Ajagba appears to be like to attain a signature win over Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas. Within the 10-round co-feature, 2016 Italian Olympian Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello takes a step up at school towards fellow unbeaten Stephan “Huge Shot” Shaw.

Ajagba-Rivas and Vianello-Shaw shall be broadcast stay on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Undercard bouts will stream stay and solely on ESPN+ and features a 10-round junior light-weight tilt between Adam “BluNose” Lopez and Abraham “El Tremendous” Nova.

Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs), a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, shortly established himself as one of many division’s heaviest hitters following his professional debut in July 2017. He tallied six first-round knockouts in his first eight bouts, utilizing his 6’6 body and sledgehammer proper hand to get rid of his opposition. Final April, Ajagba utilized his proper hand to blast out Brian Howard in a Knockout of the 12 months contender. Following an October 2021 determination defeat to Frank Sanchez, Ajagba had surgical procedure on each his elbows, returning in August to cease Hungarian veteran Jozsef Darmos within the second spherical.

“I’m injury-free and able to present the world what I can accomplish when I’m 100%,” Ajagba mentioned. “I respect Oscar Rivas for accepting the problem. We’ll give the followers an incredible present, however I shall be victorious on January 14th.”

Rivas (28-1, 19 KOs) is a 2008 Colombian Olympian who moved to Montreal in 2009 to begin his skilled profession. He notched his signature skilled victory at Turning Stone in January 2019, knocking out former world title challenger Bryant Jennings within the twelfth spherical. His solely blemish got here six months later when he traveled to England and dropped a unanimous determination to Dillian Whyte after knocking Whyte down within the ninth spherical. For the reason that Whyte defeat, Rivas has fought twice, knocking out Sylvera Louis in three rounds and outlasting Ryan Rozicki by unanimous determination in an all-Canadian showdown whereas successful the WBC Bridgerweight title. After a number of potential bouts fell by, Rivas will enter the Ajagba match coming off an almost 15-month layoff.

Rivas mentioned, “I’m extraordinarily blissful to be again within the ring in Verona the place I had loads of success not too way back. I’m pleased with my WBC Bridgerweight title and shall be defending it quickly, however this chance Prime Rank gave us at heavyweight was too good to go up. I even have loads of respect for Ajagba, and whereas I agree with him that will probably be spectacular for the followers, my expertise and my expertise would be the distinction.”

Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs), the combating pleasure of Rome, turned professional with nice fanfare in December 2018 and received his first seven bouts by stoppage in three rounds or much less. His momentum stalled following a 2020 draw towards Kingsley Ibeh and an injury-plagued 2021 that noticed him struggle as soon as. Vianello got here again in July and knocked out Rafael Rios in 4 rounds. Three months later, he returned residence to Rome and had thrilled the native followers with a dominating eight-round determination over Jay McFarlane.

Vianello mentioned, “Stephan Shaw is an efficient, undefeated fighter, however I struggle higher when introduced with high opposition. I sit up for combating on ESPN as a part of an incredible heavyweight doubleheader.”

Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs), from St. Louis, Missouri, is certainly one of America’s most proficient massive males, a 6’4, 235-pound boxer-puncher who has knocked out three of his final 4 foes. He made his Prime Rank debut in January, turning into solely the third man to knock out Philadelphia’s iron-chinned Joey Dawejko. Shaw tallied three knockdowns in simply 2:35 to wipe out Bernardo Marquez in July after which preserved his date towards Vianello with an eight-round shutout over Rydell Booker on Nov. 22 in New York Metropolis. Shaw will obtain his nationally televised massive break a decade faraway from successful U.S. Nationwide and Nationwide PAL gold medals as an novice.

“I’m excited. That is my time to shine. That is my second,” Shaw mentioned. “I’m able to exit and there and have some enjoyable. I received’t be underneath the radar after beating Guido. He’s a superb boxer, however I’m superior. I’ll show that on January 14th.”

Nova (21-1, 15 KOs), born in Puerto Rico and raised in Albany, New York, is returning to the junior light-weight ranks after briefly testing the featherweight waters. Final January at Turning Stone, Nova knocked out late alternative William Encarnacion within the eighth spherical. That knockout led to an ESPN-televised co-feature in June towards southpaw Cuban dynamo Robeisy Ramirez at Hulu Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard. After 4 aggressive rounds, Ramirez knocked Nova out with a left hand within the fifth. Nova returns to the pleasant Turning Stone confines towards Lopez (16-3, 6 KOs), a local of Glendale, California, who’s making his junior light-weight debut. Lopez final fought in Might towards Encarnacion, surviving knockdowns within the first and third rounds to eke out an eight-round unanimous determination.

“The heavyweight division is loaded with expertise, and we now have two 50/50 matchups that can see a pair of contenders emerge at Turning Stone,” mentioned Prime Rank chairman Bob Arum.

In different undercard motion, junior featherweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs), the 19-year phenom who went 5-0 with three stoppages in 2022, will struggle in his first scheduled eight-rounder.

Rising junior light-weight Haven Brady Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs), who received 4 fights in 2022, makes his 2023 debut in an eight-rounder towards an opponent to be named. Junior welterweight prospect Bryce Mills (10-1, 4 KOs), the native favourite from Liverpool, New York, goals to extend his successful streak to 5 towards Margarito Hernandez (3-3-1) in a six-rounder. Cleveland-born gentle heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (4-0, 2 KOs) fights in his first scheduled six-rounder towards fellow unbeaten Emmanueal Austin (6-0, 6 KOs).

A press launch by Prime Rank was used on this article.