By Ken Hissner: At Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, Saturday over ESPN+ and ESPN Bob Arum (Top Rank) presented in the Main Event Heavyweight Efe Ajagba defeating Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw over ten dull rounds.
In the co-feature, unbeaten heavyweight Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello, though well ahead, was stopped by a cut from Jonnie Rice after six rounds.
In the Main Event 2016 Olympic heavyweight Nigerian Efe Ajagba, 17-1 (13), #235.25, of Ughelli, NIG, and Stafford TX, easily defeated reluctant Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw, 18-1-1nc (13), #239.5, of St. Louis, MO, over ten dull rounds.
In the first three rounds, there was little action, with Ajagba’s jab winning all three. From the fourth through the eighth rounds, Shaw continues to load up, looking for a big punch but throwing a few while bouncing around the ring. Ajagba’s jab won every round. The fans are letting them know they are not pleased with the lack of action.
In the ninth round, the lack of action continued until the final punch, a rare one from Shaw, a right on the chin of Ajagba.
In the tenth and final round, the fans still called for some action, and Shaw knowing he needed a knockout, the lack of action continued for ten rounds. The referee was Charlie Fitch.
Scores were 96-94 by all judges and 100-90 by the writer.
Super Featherweight Adam “Blunose” Lopez, 16-4-1nc (6), #129, of Glendale, CA, was dropped twice, losing a decision to Abraham “El Super” Nova, 22-1 (15), #129, of Carolina, PR, and Albany, NY, ten rounds.
In the first three rounds, Nova coming off his first loss by knockout, was the aggressor, while Lopez though winning his last fight, was dropped twice and moves around in circles looking for a good punch, being outworked and not having a fan-friendly style. In the fourth round’s halfway point a right on the chin from Nova dropped Lopez for an 8-count from Referee Mark Nelson. He got up and ran the rest of the round.
In the sixth round, a glazing left on the chin from Nova and a push and down went Lopez for another 8-count from referee Nelson. In the eighth round, Lopez threw a lot of light-power punches in the final seconds after Nova controlled the round.
In the ninth round, with a minute remaining, Nova landed three solid punches on the chin of a reluctant Lopez, who needed a knockout to win. In the tenth and final round, Lopez was outworking Nova until the final seconds when a right uppercut from Nova rocked Nova.
Scores were 97-91 and 98-90 same as this writer.
In the co-feature 2016 Olympic Heavyweight Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello, 10-1-1 (9), #239, of Roma, Lazio IT, and Las Vegas, NV, was stopped on a cut by Jonathan “Jonnie” Rice, 16-6-1 (11), #274.25, of Los Angeles, CA, stopped after six rounds due to a cut caused by a head butt that didn’t show during the round. Ten rounds.
In the first three rounds, Rice came back after a year a late sub was outworked by Vianello. In the fourth round, the “sparring” session continues. They have sparred before, and Rice is treating it like another one while Vianello’s jab wins another round.
In the fifth round final seconds, Rice finally landed a right on the chin of Vianello, who continued winning the rounds with his jab. The fans are showing their displeasure with the lack of action.
In the sixth round, a rare right from Rice caused a cut on the left eyebrow and nose bleeding of Vianello halfway through the round. The cut almost stopped the fight in between rounds.
In the seventh round, the ring physician was brought in by referee Esteves who claims the cut was from a clash of heads though it was clear it was from a punch per the replay during the fight though a replay isn’t allowed in New York to determine an outcome of a fight.
The commentators brought the referee over to show it was a punch, not a headbutt. Though well ahead, Vianello’s cut stopped the fight. As it turned out, the rare one punch from Rice wins the fight not by knockout but by causing a cut.
Welter Brian “The Assassin ll” Norman, Jr., 23-0-1nc (19), #149, of Atlanta, GA, scored a knockdown defeating southpaw Rodrigo Damian Coria, 10-5 (2), #148.25, of Cordoba, ARG, and Salem, MASS, over 8.
In the first round, Norman stormed out and had Coria badly hurt and almost stopped when Norman started holding until his head cleared. He recovered well. In the next three rounds, Coria held his own with Norman, who may have done so much punching in the first two minutes he may have punched himself out.
In the fifth round, Norman seemed to get his second wind having a good round. In the seventh round’s final minute, southpaw Coria hurt Norman with a solid left on the chin. In the eighth and final round, Norman hurt Coria with a left hook on the chin but left him off the hook. Coria came back well, having the edge the rest of the round.
Scores were 79-72 and 77-74, twice the same as this writer.
The referee was Mark Nelson.
Super Feather Haven “The Hit Man” Brady, Jr., 9-0 (4), #132.75, of Albany, GA, defeated Ruben “El Tigrillo” Cervera, 13-4-1nc (11), #129.25, of Santa Marta, CO, over eight rounds.
In the first round, Brady came in several pounds over, and not the first time using a solid jab taking the first two rounds against Cervera though bleeding from the mouth in the first.
In the third round, it was Cervera coming back, taking the round and outworking Brady.
In the fifth round’s final seconds, a right from Cervera on the chin almost dropped Brady.
In the sixth round, Cervera was warned for the second time by Referee Benjy Esteves, Jr., for hitting on the break. In the final minute, Brady rocked Cervera with a lead right uppercut to the chin. In the seventh round, Brady continues to get hit by right hands.
In the eighth and final round, Brady came back in a close fight to take the round. Brady is managed by David McWater and is now trained by “Bozy” Ennis.
The scores were 78-74, 79-73, 80-72, and my 77-75.
Light Heavy Dante Benjamin, 5-0 (3), #174, of Cleveland, OH, stopped Emmanueal Austin, 6-1 (6), #175, of New Orleans, LA, and Panama City, FL, at 2:50 of the first round of a 6.
In the first round, a left hook from Benjamin rocked Austin after 20 seconds. Later in the round, a 3-punch combination from Benjamin on the chin and down went Austin for an 8-count from Referee Mark Nelson.
Benjamin jumped all over him, having him defenseless against the ropes when Austin grabbed him. The referee separated them but didn’t put Benjamin back a step when he hit Austin, and he was on the way down when the referee waved it off.
Feather Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, 5-0 (3), #128, of Brownsville Brooklyn, NY, southpaw Juan “The Wolf” Antonio Lopez, 17-12-1 (7), #127.5, of MEX and Ft. Worth, TX, six rounds.
In the first round, Lopez was the aggressor for half a round until Carrington landed a pair of right uppercuts to the chin. From there on, he gave Lopez a boxing lesson using his jab. In the next two rounds, neither boxer had an edge as Lopez worked the body and Carrington using his jab.
It was the twelfth unbeaten opponent Lopez had faced.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. warned Carrington twice about using his shoulder and warned Lopez numerous times for holding. Esteves is an excellent referee. In the sixth and last round, Carrington continued out-landing Lopez.
Scores were all 60-54, with this writer 59-55.
Super Light Bryce Mills, 11-1 (4), #143, of Syracuse, NY, defeated Margarito Hernandez, 3-4-1, #144.25, of Wapato, WA, over six rounds.
In the first round, it was all with the crowd well behind him, Mills causing blood from the left ear of Hernandez.
The ring physician checked him out, holding up the second round. In the second through the fourth rounds, Hernandez came back, making it competitive though behind by several rounds.
In the fifth, Mills continued out-landing Hernandez and was well ahead. In the sixth and final round, it was competitive, with Mills having the edge. The referee was Charlie Fitch.
The scores were 60-54 by all judges and 59-55 by this writer.