Frank Sanchez and Efe Ajagba is a look at the next world champion
Premier Boxing Champions and Top Rank were forced to work together in making the upcoming fight between WBC Heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury and Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder. However, The two boxing entities are possibly going to make an undercard fight featuring two of the heavyweight division’s hottest prospects. A contest between Frank “The Cuban Flash’ Sanchez (18-0, 13ko) and Efe “The One and Only” Ajagba (15-0, 12ko) is a look into boxing’s future.
The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger first revealed news of this prospect vs prospect high-quality fight. If you understand the high potential of these two fighters, then both pundits and fans can appreciate this fight being viewed as a possibility.
PBC VS TOP RANK HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
The Cuban Flash’s nickname speaks for itself. Sanchez is one of those well-accomplished Cuban boxers blessed with speed, average power, and good athleticism. He has a feel for throwing combinations and counter-punches. Equally important, he looks to build everything with the jab. In the amateurs, he holds a victory over fellow countrymen and top amateur heavyweight Erislandy Savon.
Sanchez was last in the ring on May 8 against academy award nominee Nagy “Dominican Dynamite” Aguilera. Aguilera is in the running for the best acting job by a boxer looking for a way out of a fight.
Ajagba is a powerful, heavy-handed puncher. Ironically, Ajagba used to fight under the PBC banner before signing with Top Rank in 2020. He also has a good amateur pedigree with a victory over another heavyweight prospect in Junior Fa. Fans remember him for winning a fight without throwing a punch against Curtis Harper. Harper walked out of the ring immediately following the bell to start the fight.
Ajagba’s toughness got tested in a step-up fight against veteran Iago Kiladze. After dropping the veteran fighter in the second round, he to attempted to finish the fight in round three. However, he would walk into a perfectly timed right hand that put him on the canvas. Ajagba would get up off the canvas and stop his adversary in the fifth round. This victory proved he was worthy of the praise.
FIGHTING A COMMON FOE
If you want to gauge who would win this fight, just look at their performances against a common foe in Brian Howard. Sanchez currently ranks #6 with the WBO, and he scored a knockout in the fourth round after putting Howard on the canvas for the third time. Ajagba ranks #9 with the WBC, and he scored a meme-style third-round knockout after landing the first flush right hand of the fight.
This is a good fight that will provide plenty of fireworks. Additionally, the winner will move forward towards the world heavyweight championship.
By: Garrisson Bland
