Efe Ajagba vs Frank Sanchez winner deserves a title shot
The boxing community is getting ready for the showdown trilogy of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Alabama power puncher Deontay Wilder. However, on the undercard is a fight worthy of our attention. Highly talented, undefeated prospects Efe “The One and Only” Ajagba (15-0, 12ko) and “Cuban Flash” Frank Sanchez (18-0, 13ko) will clash to determine who will be the next future heavyweight champion.
A fight of this caliber should be taken very seriously by the fans. Moreover, in boxing, you do not typically get different entities putting their top prospects against the rival network’s top prospect.
MEET THE FIGHTERS
Sanchez fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. He has over 200 amateurs wins and won the 2015 Cuban National Championship by defeating fellow countryman Erislandy Savon. The Cuban Flash is an incredibly gifted boxer with the ability to throw combinations like a middleweight and is a good counter-puncher.
Ajagba once fought under the PBC banner before jumping ship over to Top Rank. Furthermore, he will enter the ring as the taller man with a seven-inch reach advantage. The aforementioned fighter has very good, fight-changing knockout power. This was demonstrated after getting up off the canvas to stop veteran Iago Kiladze in the fifth round.
TEAM AJAGBA WANTED THE RISK!
Both fighters are ranked respectively, with Sanchez holding the #5 WBO spot and Ajagba is #8 in the WBC. Both fighters are within striking range of a world title. With these two fighters so close to being able to fight for a championship, why take the risk now?
During an interview with Tha Boxing Voice, Top Rank Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler revealed that it was Team Ajagba that wanted to take the risk.
“We have a kid that we like a lot, a heavyweight Efe Ajagba, and he is going to fight Frank Sanchez on the Fury card. It is Efe’s toughest fight on paper, and it was some concern and debate whether the match should happen.”
“Whether he was ready for Frank, who is a very good Cuban fighter, and eventually it was decided. Efe had a say in it, also. But you never want to listen to the fighter because, usually, they will fight anybody. But Efe pushed it, his trainer and manager agreed that it is a risky fight, but it is one they think they should take to advance Efe’s career.”
Credit definitely should go out to team Ajagba, along with Top Rank and PBC, for being willing to take such a huge gamble. Moreover, the winner of this fight will undoubtedly be on the fast track for a world championship fight.
Sanchez will be defending the WBC Continental Americas title. However, in this author’s opinion, the fighters should be rewarded by making this bout for the Interim or Silver title.
Fans can catch this undercard fight live on Pay-Per-View Saturday, October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
By: Garrisson Bland
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