It took him nearly 10 years, but “The Silent Roller” finally exacted revenge tonight.
Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) defended his WBC Silver heavyweight title with a fourth-round stoppage over Australia’s Joe Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs) Saturday evening at Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Ajagba and Goodall fought as amateurs in 2014, with Goodall earning a decision. This time, however, Ajagba demonstrated just how much better he’s gotten.
Ajagba began the contest by landing jabs and right hands, though Goodall had some success in closing the distance.
The 29-year-old Olympian then began landing right uppercuts in round three that wobbled Goodall. In round four, a one-two combo initiated a series of combos that forced referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight at the :50 mark.
“It’s been long. I was out of boxing for a long time. When I came back with Stephen Shaw {in January 2023}, my confidence was not there. I had just come back from surgery, and I had to get back into shape. But right now, I came back with full confidence. That’s why I took him out,” Ajagba said.
“{My team} pushed me in training camp. They made me work extremely hard in this camp to make sure I win the fight. I sparred a lot of different guys to make me stay strong.
“Whoever they offer me to fight, I’m ready to go. I will go back with my team to talk about that.”
Muratalla Stops Torres in 8
Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (19-0, 16 KOs) put the lightweight division on notice in tonight’s co-feature.
The 26-year-old contender defended his regional lightweight titles with an eighth-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Mexican puncher, Diego Torres (18-1, 17 KOs).
Muratalla took the center of the ring from the opening round. He worked off his front foot and stepped out of range to avoid any return fire. In the eighth, he landed a left hook that snapped Torres’ head and sent him to the canvas.
Torres rose to his feet, but he was deemed unable to continue by referee Celestino Ruiz at 1:45.
Muratalla said, “I’m here to put on a show. Every day I’m working hard to get these opportunities. And I’m showing out.
“We put in the hard work, and I’m here to take out these opponents. I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m here to take whoever. Any champion. I hope my next fight is a title fight.”
Junior Lightweights:
In a battle of standouts, Puerto Rican southpaw Henry Lebron (19-0, 10 KOs) beat William Foster III (16-1, 10 KOs) via
10-round majority decision. Lebron had success early by landing from the outside, though Foster began to connect in rounds five and six.
A left hook from Lebron stunted Foster’s momentum, and Lebron was able to get the better of the exchanges down the stretch.
Scores: 95-95, 96-94, and 99-91.
Junior Welterweights:
Angel Rebollar (8-3, 3 KOs) tallied an upset unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Puerto Rican prospect Omar Rosario(11-1, 3 KOs).
Rosario was on the hunt for the entire fight, but Rebollar was too elusive for Rosario to land any significant offense.
Scores: 78-74 3x.
Junior Welterweights:
Lindolfo Delgado (19-0, 14 KOs) authored a career-best victory tonight by stopping Luis Hernandez (23-4, 20 KOs) via fourth-round knockout.
Hernandez was unrelenting in the opening rounds while Delgado bided his time.
In round four, Delgado stunned Hernandez with a left uppercut before ending the fight with a flurry.
Time of stoppage: 1:53.
Heavyweights:
Brandon Moore (13-0, 8 KOs) made a successful Top Rank debut by vanquishing Robert Simms (12-4-1, 3 KOs) via eight-round unanimous decision.
Moore floored Simms with a chopping right hand in round four, though Simms was able to survive.
Scores: 80-71 3x.
Heavyweights:
Six rounds could not separate a pair on unbeaten big men, as Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (8-0-1, 7 KOs) and Skylar Lacy (7-0-1, 5 KOs) fought to a majority draw.
Lacy dictated the early rounds with a firm jab through Mireles’ southpaw guard.
Mireles won the final two rounds on all three judges’ cards, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Scores: 58-56 Lacy and 57-57 2x.
Lightweights:
Charlie Sheehy (8-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated by toppling Jesus Vasquez Jr. (10-2, 2 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision.
Sheehy controlled the fight behind a sturdy jab and counter right hands.
Scores: 60-54 3x.
Junior Lightweights:
Gabriel Garcia (10-0, 6 KOs) overwhelmed Joshua Montoya (6-4-2) with relentless pressure to notch a six-round unanimous decision victory.
Scores: 60-54 and 59-55 2x.
Middleweights:
Javier Martinez (9-0-1, 3 KOs) scored three knockdowns en route to a first-round knockout victory against Isaiah Wise(11-3-2, 6 KOs).
Time of stoppage: 2:02.
Lightweights:
Reno-born lightweight Christian Avalos (1-1-2) defeated Estevan Partida (1-2-1) via four-round majority decision.
Scores: 38-38, 39-37 and 40-36.
Credit: Top Rank Boxing
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