Stephan Shaw says he’s assured of turning into America’s subsequent heavyweight boxing champion and beating Britain’s Dillian Whyte in a possible future matchup.
The 30-year-old from St Louis, Missouri, has the chance to make a press release on Saturday evening when he faces the damaging Efe Ajagba in New York, reside on Sky Sports Arena at 1am on Sunday morning.
Shaw has amassed an ideal 18-0 file, with 13 knockouts, since turning skilled in 2013, however his profession lastly picked up actual momentum final yr as he delivered three spectacular victories.
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Ajagba (left) is difficult punching former Olympian
“I really feel like it is a nice alternative for me,” Shaw advised Sky Sports. “This will deliver extra eyes and let the world know that Stephan Shaw is a drive to be reckoned with within the heavyweight division.
“I simply wish to present that I belong with a number of the finest on the planet. Not simply heavyweight, simply a number of the finest fighters on the planet.
“I wish to present that I can beat a man of this calibre and I’m very assured that I can do it.”
While Deontay Wilder is as soon as extra lively and in search of a chance to change into a two-time world champion after his defeats to Tyson Fury, the USA is determined for a brand new star in boxing’s hottest division.
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Unbeaten 23-year-old Jared ‘Big Baby’ Anderson has been touted as the way forward for American heavyweight boxing, however ‘Big Shot’ Shaw is adamant he’s first in line
“Absolutely, I really feel like I’m the subsequent American heavyweight world champion,” he mentioned.
“I’ve been doing this for a minute. It’s unhappy nearly that the eyes are solely simply getting on me, I’ve been professional since I used to be 21 years previous, and I all the time wished the eyes to be on me.
“It’s not like different guys are combating prime stage competitors that is making folks be like, ‘oh, he is crushed nice fighters already.’ It’s simply they’re getting primary stage TV spots towards C-level fighters.
“And right here I’m, my first actual primary occasion, and I’m combating a fighter with an Olympic background.”
If issues had performed out as he’d have appreciated, Shaw might already be a well known title within the UK.
Another rising heavyweight Jared Anderson continued his menacing 100% knockout file as he stopped Jerry Forrest after which challenged British rivals Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois
“I’d like to battle in Britain,” Shaw mentioned. “I used to be purported to battle Jermaine Franklin in 2021 and that was going to be my first primary occasion battle, and I keep in mind main as much as that battle, Eddie Hearn had talked about that the winner of our battle might have been a attainable opponent for Dillian Whyte.
“But Jermaine Franklin pulled out on 4 days’ discover with Covid. Then fast-forward he ended up getting a Dillian Whyte battle.
“I’d have beloved to get that chance. Franklin did not battle anyone of any calibre, nowhere close to Efe Ajagba, to get to that plateau.”
Whyte edged out Franklin on a majority determination following a detailed contest at Wembley Arena in November.
“He did very nicely towards Dillian Whyte, and I felt like would have fared even higher,” Shaw added. “I felt like I might have, and am, able to beating Dillian Whyte.
“I really feel like that will be an awesome battle.”
Watch Ajagba versus Shaw reside on Sky Sports Arena at 1am on Sunday morning.
Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith is on Saturday January 21, reside on Sky Sports Box Office. Book it now in case you are a Sky TV subscriber or a Non-Sky TV subscriber. Buy tickets right here.
