“Silent Roller” Efe Ajagba I am quietly building a good resume.
29-year-old heavyweight Afagba will face Guido Vianello, also 29, in a co-feature on Saturday, April 13th's Top Rank Cards from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) has fought through some tough fights and has worked with two promoters: Ringstar Promotions (a promotion founded by Richard Schaefer) and now Top Rank. His only loss was to Frank Sanchez, a fighter no one in the heavyweight division wanted to fight. However, Ajagba's style and use of his 6-foot-6 frame allows him to hit sledgehammers with his right hand while keeping opponents at bay. Television isn't always required, but it's often effective.
Ajagba’s 2023 was impressive. He upset two of his rising prospects in the year's opener, outscoring Stephen Shaw and then defeating Jan Kosobutsky by disqualification. Ajagba ended 2023 by knocking out Joseph Goodall, who knocked out Shaw after Ajagba defeated Shaw. Every victory is creditable.
If Ajagba wins meaningful matches, even at the national level, he could move towards a title shot or at least a career-high salary, but there is a lack of movement at the top of the division. Therefore, Ajagba has lost his way. It's going to be a tough battle after another, and Saturday will be no different.
Now, he's staring across the ring at a man who looks like him in Vianello (12-1, 10 KOs). Both were 2016 Olympians. Ajagba represented Nigeria, while Vianello represented Italy. Ajagba lost to Ivan Dychko (Kazakhstan) in the quarterfinals. Vianello lost to Cuba's Renier Perro in the round of 16.
Vianello's high ability, combined with his above-average defensive acumen and situational awareness, would make him a tough test for any heavyweight, but his loss to Johnny Rice a year ago put a damper on his prospects. Some of them have faded into obscurity. Now it's time for Vianello to prove his position.
Ajagba is looking to extend his four-fight win streak to five and will likely join the heavyweight roster. But what kind of mix? Ajagba is in what feels like a career-defining battle for the fourth year in a row. At this point, one might think he wouldn't have it any other way.
