Last Updated on April 9, 2024 10:52 pm by Erwin Noguera
In the co-main fight next Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, Efe Ajagba of Nigeria (19-1, 14 KOs) and Guido Vianello of Italy (12-1-1, 10 KOs) will square off in a 10-round heavyweight bout.
Ajagba, 29, represented Nigeria in the super heavyweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Since turning pro in 2017, he has risen quickly through the heavyweight ranks, losing only one fight by decision to Frank Sanchez in 2021. He has since rebounded with three straight wins to improve his record to 19-1 with 14 knockouts.
Vianello, also 29, represented Italy as a super heavyweight at the same Olympics in 2016 before turning pro in 2018. He has less experience than Ajagba with a record of 12-1-1, including 10 knockouts. After reeling off 10 straight wins to start his career, Vianello struggled to a draw against Kingsley Ibeh in 2022, which halted his momentum somewhat.
This 10-round fight will be an important heavyweight showdown between two talented 2016 Olympians looking to get into title contention.
When?
Saturday, April 13, 9:00 pm ET
Ring walks time:
(Estimated) 10:20 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Efe Ajagba 1.195
Guido Vianello 5.24
Where can I watch it?
ESPN
Why Bet on Efe Ajagba?
Efe Ajagba comes into this fight with a record of 19-1 and 14 knockouts. His last five fights have demonstrated both his strengths and weaknesses.
In January 2023, Ajagba persevered to a hard-fought victory over Stephen Shaw. It was a close fight that went the distance of 10 rounds, but Ajagba did enough to win the unanimous decision. While he showed tremendous heart in getting the win, Ajagba also showed some vulnerabilities defensively. After the Shaw fight, Ajagba defeated Zhilei Zhang by disqualification.
On the other hand, Ajagba scored another dominant victory over Joe Goodall. Fighting in his first main event, Ajagba knocked Goodall down three times en route to a TKO victory. He showed impressive power and finishing instincts after hurting Goodall.
Ajagba’s recent performances demonstrate exceptional punching power and a proven ability to overcome adversity. However, his defense remains a work in progress. He will need to toughen up defensively to compete against the elite fighters in the division. This fight against Vianello will be another good test of how much Ajagba has improved.
Why Bet on Guido Vianello?
Guido Vianello comes into this fight with a record of 12-1-1, with 10 knockouts. His last three fights have shown some ups and downs for the Italian heavyweight.
In January 2023, Vianello lost to Jonathan Rice by second-round technical knockout. The Italian couldn’t handle the orthodox American boxer and gave up terribly at the beginning of the year.
Vianello had another fight in October 2023, where he defeated Curtis Harper by a Unanimous Decision. This was a really good result because in that way the Italian got back to the winning ways and so he was full of confidence again.
More recently, in February 2024, Vianello scored a third-round technical knockout victory over Moses Johnson at Madison Square Garden Theater, in New York. He dropped Johnson three times in the fight before the referee turned him down.
Vianello’s recent performances show some vulnerabilities. While he has good power, as evidenced by his 10 knockouts in 13 fights, he has struggled when opponents don’t simply crumble against him.
Final Betting Analysis: Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello
When it comes to fighting tactics, Ajagba and Vianello will likely employ strategies that complement their respective styles inside the ring.
For Ajagba, look for him to use his size and reach advantage to keep Vianello at a distance. Standing at 6’6″ with an 85″ reach, he can control the action from the outside with his jab and straight right hand. He will look to pump the jab repeatedly while picking his spots to unload powerful right hands down the middle. Efe is an aggressive puncher, so he will constantly press forward behind a high guard and apply pressure.
If Vianello wants to win, he will need to start fast and try to use his power punches to gain an early advantage. Relying on a decision against the relentless Ajagba could be dangerous for Vianello. He has the punching power to upset any heavyweight but lacks experience against high-level opponents at this stage of his career.
For this bout, our prediction is a win for Efe Ajagba by KO in the fifth round.
Go for a victory for the Nigerian at 1.195. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $19.5 for a total payout of $119.5.
Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello Betting Pick: Efe Ajagba
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