Result. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 2015 African Games and bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Rosenberg and Rick Glaser, Harper's new promoter who was retained after the Ajagba bout, also said Harper deserved more than the $6,000 fee in the contract because it was a televised fight. It took me like two to three months (to recover). Efe Ajagba record and bio Nationality: Nigerian Born: April 22, 1994 Height: 6-6 Reach: 85 inches Total fights: 17 Record: 16-1 with 13 wins via knockout MORE: How to bet on combat sports. The 27-year-old is one of the richest boxers in Nigeria. ", Nate Campbell, Harper's trainer and a former world champion: "He was never gonna fight him. He had defeated Jonathan Rice on 19th September 2020 by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at The Bubble, MGM Grand, Nevada. VS. RYAN GARCIA (23-0, 19 KOS). KOs. Box-am Box-pro All Bouts division: heavy rating #1 / 14 bouts: 18: rounds: 75 KOs: 72.22% career: 2017-2023 debut: 2017-07-30 ID# 804221 sex: male . Of those 17 wins he has stopped 13 of his opponents, so his current knock-out ratio is 76%. [12][13], After improving to 120, on 7 March 2020, Ajagba fought Rzvan Cojanu. Hes big. An opponent has been secured for the unbeaten rising heavyweight, as Ajagba will face Los Angeles' Jonathan Rice in a 10-round clash on the September 19 show live from The Bubble in Las Vegas . } Nigerian Olympian Efe Ajagba is completing final preparations for his highly anticipated showdown with Cuban foe Frank Sanchez on October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After that, I'll see who's there to fight before the world title shot.". [1] He formerly worked in a bakery. Everything was right in the world. Let's go get him, let's go get him, let's go get him.' As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 2015 African Games and bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Add our schedule to your calendar and receive a reminder before each PBC fight. As for comparisons with former WBC king Deontay Wilder, Ajagba believes hes already better than The Bronze Bomber. But Harper did accept the per diem, hotel rooms and flights attached to the contract he signed. Division: 136-pound catch weight Doesnt matter. ESPN+ stream to begin at 7:30 p.m. The formula is simple: If you take down a hot fighter, you generally take his place as the man to watch. By doing so Ajagba qualified to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sometimes a boxer gives such a sublime performance that he simply has to be rewarded. I know how things go in Nigeria; its not easy. TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($84.99) When was the call to say something about the money? Nigerian. According to. The 26-year-old Top Rank star improved to 15-0 last weekend with the 12th knockout of his pro career a highlight-reel finish of Brian Howard. ", Curtis Harper: "It was not a matter of caring about the opponent. Otherwise hes going to waste his talent. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Earlier this month, many were shocked when Jacksonville's Curtis Harper, a boxer with a 13-6 record, was disqualified after exiting the ring seconds after the opening bell in a fight against up-and-coming former Olympian Efe Ajagba, of Nigeria. Efe Ajagba's net worth is a true testimony that anyone can come from a humble background to achieve a lot in life through hard work and dedication. Ajagba (16-1, . No true boxing fan will however rule out Sanchez as the Cuban is a bag full of tricks. Efe Ajagba. Ajagba (15-0, 12 KOs) and Sanchez (18-0, 13 KOs) will square off in an intriguing 10-round fight on the pay-per-view portion of the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder undercard October 9 at T-Mobile Arena. ", Romero: "That has nothing to do with the fight. Ricky Gervais reveals all of his everyday frustrations. Boxing Junkie scored it 98-91 for Sanchez. In Ajagba's assessment, it is Fury's constant movement which makes him such a dangerous opponent. Try Our Sister Site, MMA Facts. height: calc(100% + 1px); Efe Ajagba is a Nigerian professional boxer, commonwealth champion, and Olympian with impressive boxing exploits. In the last week, 76.92% of all bets are on Ajagba to win. left: -15px; [7] In the first round Ajagba beat Ugandan Michael Sekamembe on points,[8] he defeated Tunisian boxer Aymen Trabelsi in the semifinal to secure his qualification,[9] then in the final he beat Mohamed Arjaoui of Morocco. ", Harper: "It was the hardest thing for me to do, to walk back to the dressing room. And then I never got a full contract. Continue with Recommended Cookies. "I didn't know it was an issue until now because he never brought it up until after the fight," Margules said. 16 bouts, the Nigerian has 15 wins, one defeat, and zero draws. He smashed Jozsef . The 136-pound fight between Gervonta Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) and Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) is simply a fascinating pairing of two hot, young knockout artists with immense social media followings and the potential to become the face of the sport one day. Take it easy on him.' I didn't quit. He told Fansided: Both elbows. Add our schedule to your calendar and receive a reminder before each It was the beginning of a journey that has brought him to the limelight across the world. Hes so calm under pressure. .node-type-video #views-exposed-form-haymon-search-video-page i.fa-search::before { The 10-round bout will take place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. [10] Ajagba was the only Nigerian boxer of the ten who competed to qualify for Rio through the tournament, leading to claims from Nigeria's coach Konyegwachie that judges had been bribed. The 2016 Olympian from Italy outboxed and outworked Rice for most of six rounds of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout, taking a clear lead on the cards in the process. He says: " i just focused all the anger i had for the Nigerian government in one blow" 11 Apr 2023 14:53:48 He has three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters. Please check your email for a confirmation. Just need to get official approval.". As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 2015 African Games and bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Frank Snchez Faure (born 18 July 1992) is a Cuban professional boxer who has held the NABO heavyweight title since 2019 and the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title since 2020.. Professional career []. The undefeated Ajagba (12-0, 10 KOs) will face veteran Razvan Cojanu at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night. He has three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters. The star does not like to show off his property in public. He said Shields has become a father figure and that he cant wait to get to the gym each day. Dad marched to the gym and told the coach in no uncertain terms: No, its not possible.The impromptu meeting produced an agreement: Efe would train early in the morning and work afterward. And those close to him, including his trainer, Nate Campbell, said there was no problem until fight night. Efe Ajagba made his professional debut in July 2017, so he has been a pro for 5 years and 8 months. known for his stunning performances in the pitch. I want people to know where I started and where I am today.. The bout will be. I was saying, 'Wait. Fury? Tiya is an entrepreneur & business coach. That's exactly what happened when Efe Ajagba knocked out Brian Howard in the third round of the Top Rank match in Osage Casino in Tulsa on Saturday night. "There's something special about him because of the way he moves forwards and backward. "U here? Nigerian boxer, Efe Ajagba knocked out his opponent in 23 seconds at the Rio Summer Olympics When asked his secret?. The hulking Londoner has knocked out 14 of his 15 professional opponents, including his last five. [15] Ajagba secured another victory in his 15th fight, knocking out Brian Howard in the third round on 10 April 2021. Stephan Shaw Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) blew the biggest opportunity of his career, which came about when Ajagbas original opponent, Oscar Rivas, pulled out because of an eye injury and he was asked to step in a few weeks ago. Much like Wlad, Ajagba has a great, stiff jab that he uses to walk down and corner his opponents, setting up his heavy right hand. height: auto; Marcus Thuram player profile: Borussia, injury, contracts. Then, in the seventh round, a right from Rice caused a massive gash above Vianellos left eye that made it impossible for him to continue. Efe Ajagba was invited to train with Tyson Fury after stopping Brian Howard in the third round of their fight in April Fury v Wilder III Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. Romero said Harper does have a signed contract because the Minnesota Boxing Commission would not have allowed Harper to step into the ring without one. He knows that sudden riches have ruined more than one boxer. Unbeaten sensation Efe Ajagba faces a yet-to-be-named opponent in the co-main event and rising heavyweight Frank Snchez meets Joey Dawejko in a 10-round attraction as heavyweights hit the primetime at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. People are really excited about him now.. @media only screen and (max-width: 767px) { Full name: Efe Ajagba Nickname: The Silent Roller Gender: Male Date of birth: 22 April 1994 Age: 27 years (as of January 2022) Zodiac sign: Aries Place of birth: Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria Efe Ajagba's nationality: Nigerian Religion: Christian Height: 6' 5" (196cm) Reach: 85" (244cm) Efe Ajagba's weight: 91kg Profession: Professional Boxer Did Mayer show she's ready for Katie Taylor? Is Efe Ajagba still fighting? It doesnt get much more intriguing than this pay-per-view fight Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. margin-bottom: 0 !important; TBD. ", Boxer forfeits by walking out of ring (1:05), Why one boxer walked out of the ring before a fight. He holds the record for the fastest victory in boxing history. That was a welcome sight for Ajagba fans after he had disappointed in his last outing vs Jonathan Rice last September. Date: Saturday, 9. Follow fighters & contests for reminders, updates & tickets. The fact that officials arrived at the correct decision was gratifying. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Shaw replaces Oscar Rivas, who had to withdraw from the Ajagba fight last week due to an eye injury. The opportunity to fight a well-known opponent in a main event on national television (ESPN) doesnt come around often. } If you feel that isnt the case, please check your licensing agreements with the Promoter(s) / TV Station(s) / management company(ies) of the fighter or contest in question. Nigerian boxer, Efe Ajagba has defeated American Stephan Shaw in their heavyweight battle in the early hours of Sunday morning. Nigeria's biggest boxing export, Efe Ajagba, is in line to make his debut in Britain this year after impressive outings in the United States. Sanchez boasts 13 knockouts from his 18 wins. Undefeated heavyweight Stephan Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) will step in as a replacement for the injured Oscar Rivas to face Efe Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) in . Three years after lacing up his first gloves he represented his country in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and won a bronze medal in the superheavyweight division.Ajagba and his fellow medalists were invited to the home of the Nigerian president as part of a celebration and given stipends as a result of their success, which in Ajagbas case allowed him to focus 100 percent on the sport for the first time.The bronze medalist had been working at a bakery while he trained, his meager earnings helping his struggling family to make ends meet in a challenging economic environment. Ajagba Chances Efe Ajagba is faced with one of the biggest fights of his career as a victory will put him higher in ranking and closer to a world title shot. Sign up for the Boxing Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He was scouted at the Olympics and brought to Houston, Texas, a city with a large Nigerian immigrant population, to base his professional career. Standing at 6'6" with an 85-inch reach and usually weighing in. The main event pits Efe Ajagba against Oscar Rivas, while undefeated Guido Vianello and Stephen Shaw square off in the co-feature. At the time of writing this article, he is 27 years of age. [2], Ajagba was selected to compete for the Nigerian team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. Chandler would go on to dominate Round 2 before Poirier fought back in the final round to submit his opponent . Lighthearted. html body { Harper cited a dispute over money for his decision not to fight, which resulted in his disqualification. Nigerian heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba wants a showdown with young British prospect Daniel Dubois as he looks to step up to elite company. That's the issue. in his home town back in 2005. Ajagba is an imposing figure6 feet, 5 inches (196 cm) and around 235 pounds (107 kilos) of lean, chiseled muscleand had knocked out each of his five previous opponents, four in the first round. He said.. "I just focused all. Sportsbrief.com also published details about Tebogo Langerman, one of the most decorated South African footballers known for his stunning performances in the pitch. Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas The heavyweight is currently 28 years old. If he wins, hell edge closer to a showdown with one of the champions or another top-tier opponent. Currently, He is living in Delta State, and working as Athlete. "For the WBC heavyweight champion to spar with me, that encourages me. ", Charlo: "It's never a good situation to quit anything without saying something, being professional. Efe Ajagba's last fight took place against Stephan Shaw's on 14th Jan 2023, in Verona, United States. Shakur puts lightweight division on the alert; 'Bam' Rodriguez keeps winning, can he be stopped? The 26-year-old Top Rank star improved to 15-0 last weekend with the 12th knockout of his pro career - a highlight-reel finish of Brian Howard. ", Jermall Charlo, boxing world champion and Fox Sports 1 commentator that night: "I was thinking that it was premeditated. Curtis Harper leaves the ring at the start of the fight due to a compensation dispute. . The rare breakthrough came about when Ajagba's opponent Curtis Harper was disqualified for walking out of the ring one . He has amassed a total of 63 professional boxing rounds in his career. Ever since stepping into the ring, the 27-year-old. And, of course, no one connected to Ajagba expects bumps in the road. Ajagbas first pro fight was in July of last year. Is it time for football to phase out heading? He also plans to move his entire family to the United States. Hes too talented, too determined. His opponent, Curtis Harper, walked out of the ring before their scheduled six-rounder began in August 2018. It was ruled a slip. At stake: No major titles I think he had other conflicts going on. position: sticky; FRANK SANCHEZ shocked the Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder crowd by punching Efe Ajagba when his knee was down. Odds: Davis 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets) } } Many believe Harper was scared to fight Ajagba, an undefeated fighter who had knocked out the five opponents he'd faced before that bout. Please check your email for a confirmation. } It never started. The Nigerian star once worked in a bakery to provide for his family. Heavyweight rankings: Fury reigns, what about Dubois? "The punches that he threw (during sparring), I could take them. ", Ronnie Shields: "I think he was fine up until he saw Ajagba. He is also renowned by his nickname "The Silent Roller " who won a gold medal at the 2015 African Games. Ajagba was Nigeria's only boxer at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and was eliminated by Ivan Dychko of Kazakhstan, who is now 9-0 as a pro himself. Read to find out about his cars, net worth, family and much, Liverpool hit Leeds for six after controversial Gakpo opener, Red Star Belgrade Winger Osman Bukari Visits Black Starlets Players in Serbia, Steph Curry confident despite Warriors losing Game 1 to Sacramento, Federico Valverde: Real Madrid Midfielder Set to be Banned for 12 Matches, Why Cristiano Ronaldo Paints His Toenails Black as Fans Spot Them in Instagram Post, They Have Always Been Favoured: Barcelona President Criticises Real Madrid, Nigerias Israel Adesanya Eager for Another Fight After Dethroning Alex Pereira, DStv Diski Challenge Title Race Goes Down to the Wire for SuperSport United, Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates, Confirmed: Dondol Stars Were Robbed of a Penalty Against Orlando Pirates in Nedbank Cup, Goal-shy Inter eye Champions League semis while crisis looms at home. Efe said: Id like to fight Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce, and Tony Yoka. The Delta State-born boxer is currently dating Tiya Renee. [14], In his next fight, Ajagba made his Top Rank debut and fought Jonathan Rice on 19 September 2020. width: 100%; Can Joyce start over after a tough loss? height: auto; } The previously unbeaten Joyce was on the cusp of his first title shot. I punch harder than Tyson Fury. The third instalment of the heavyweight contest between WBC champion Tyson Fury and his American nemesis and former champion Deontay Wilder on Saturday is already being billed as one of the biggest fights of the year. I think if Curtis had to do it all over again, he'd do the same thing. The well-schooled Cuban heavyweight outboxed fellow prospect Efe Ajagba to win a one-sided unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a victory that should move him up the rankings. left: 0; Hence the 96-94 score on all three cards. Thats the good fortune of Zhang, who used a wicked straight left to upset previously unbeaten top contender Joe Joyce by a sixth-round knockout Saturday night in London. [CDATA[/* >