Ajagba – Goodall headlines a loaded bill from Tahoe Blue Event Center LIVE on ESPN+ SATURDAY at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Nigeria’s powerhouse, Efe Ajagba, is strapping up his gloves, aiming to inch closer to a title shot, and he’ll be fighting none other than Australia’s hard-hitter Joe Goodall. This exciting main event will light up the ring for 10 rounds on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the new Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Ajagba and Goodall have traded punches before in their amateur days, with Goodall scoring a win in the 2014 Commonwealth Games semifinals in Glasgow. So, we have a bit of history to settle here!
Alongside this heavyweight clash, we have Raymond “Danger” Muratalla and undefeated Mexican powerhouse Diego Torres turning up the heat in a 10-round lightweight duel.
Both these dynamic fights top the bill and will be streamed exclusively in the U.S. live on ESPN+.
The promotion is handled by Top Rank, coupled with DiBella Entertainment, and you can grab your tickets starting Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 12 p.m. PT via Ticketmaster.com.
Efe Ajagba, the Olympian and one of the division’s knockout artists, comes into this bout as a serious contender for a world title, but Joe Goodall isn’t going to be an easy win. Top Rank’s chairman, Bob Arum, voiced his excitement about promoting the first-ever boxing event at the spanking new Tahoe Blue Event Center and anticipates a thrilling card featuring the emerging lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla against the rugged Diego Torres.
Lou DiBella, the big gun at DiBella Entertainment, expressed his enthusiasm post-Goodall’s July victory, foreseeing a sensational clash between two knockout specialists. He said, “Joe’s triumph over Efe in the amateurs? Maybe it’s destiny. And with a fight like this, it’s the fans who hit the jackpot.”
Ajagba, standing tall at 6-foot-6, has earned his stripes, debuting in 2017 and securing a string of first-round knockouts. After a brief setback and elbow surgery, he bounced back, determined to end the year with a significant win. “Goodall’s a powerful adversary,” admitted Ajagba, “but I’ve put in the work, and I’m gunning for victory.”
Goodall, with his respectable 10-1-1 record, had a smashing start to his career in 2018 and made quite the entrance in the U.S. with a first-round knockout in March 2022. He’s poised and ready to showcase his talent and believes that overcoming Ajagba is his ticket to a world title opportunity. “It’s a huge stage, and I’m thrilled to showcase my capabilities,” Goodall asserted, eager to get into the mix with the big fights and etch his name among the top-contender heavyweights.
Undercard Spotlight: Tahoe Boxing Bonanza on Nov. 4
Starting with the heavyweight division, Brandon Moore is all set to make his Top Rank debut. This guy, with a spotless record of 12-0, including 8 KOs, will face Robert Simms in an eight-round bout. After rattling off six bouts in 2021 and ending the likes of Elvis Garcia and Terrell Jamal Woods, Moore took a brief hiatus. He bounced back this June, showing no mercy to Elijah McCall. As for Simms? He’s riding high on an October victory over James McKenzie Morrison.
If you’re looking for an electrifying clash, look no further than the junior lightweight division. Henry Lebron, with an unbeaten streak of 18-0, and William Foster III, equally unblemished at 16-0, will go head-to-head in a 10-round duel. With Lebron showcasing solid victories over notable opponents in 2022 and Foster packing a punch against the likes of Edwin De Los Santos and Avery Sparrow, this fight is an adrenaline junkie’s dream.
Giant alert! Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles, with his towering 6-foot-9 frame, is all geared up for a six-round heavyweight showdown. With 8 wins under his belt, 7 of them being KOs, he’s fresh off a win against Dajuan Calloway. His opponent? TBA
The junior welterweight division isn’t left out of the mix. Omar Rosario, another of Puerto Rico’s rising stars, with 11 straight wins, is prepping for an eight-round contest against Angel Rebollar, who’s looking to shake things up.
There’s more action from the junior welterweight turf. Mexican marvel and Olympian Lindolfo Delgado is stepping into the ring for the third time this year. He’s facing off against Luis Hernandez Ramos in what promises to be an eight-round thriller.
Heads up for Team USA fans! Former amateur sensation Charlie Sheehy is eyeing victory number eight. After delivering a jaw-dropping one-punch TKO in July, he’s set to square off with Jesus Vasquez in a six-round lightweight fight.
Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez, a middleweight with a solid record, is taking on Isaiah Wise in an eight-round contest. And guess what, Reno’s very own lightweight, Christian Avalos, is ready to dazzle the hometown crowd with a four-rounder.
Efe Ajagba
They call me the ‘Silent Roller,’ which is exactly how I’ll enter the ring—quiet on the outside but fierce within the ropes. It’s a contrast I embody; calm in life, yet ferocious in combat.
The significance of this fight extends beyond the moment; it’s a stepping stone towards a world title shot for me. The outcome will chart the course for my next steps.
Our history in the ring goes back to a previous sparring session and a defeat I endured at the Commonwealth Games eight years ago. It’s time for a rematch, and the stakes are personal; I’m driven by the memory of that loss.
In the ring, my strategy is to unleash the full force of my preparation—the intensive training and the power that’s floored many in sparring. I plan to channel all that energy into this significant fight.
Joe Goodall
The excitement is high for Saturday night’s encounter. Facing Efe Ajagba, a respected adversary, I stand confident among the world’s great fighters. With the WBC Silver title in play, victory could mean a shot at the world title, which is why winning this fight is of utmost importance to me.
Analyzing his fight history, including his solo defeat to Frank Sanchez, I’ve noted several tactics that could be advantageous. While I don’t plan to replicate Sanchez’s style, the insights from that fight will inform my strategy. Having sparred with Ajagba before, familiarity is on my side. The focus now is to flawlessly execute our game plan on the night of the fight.
🗓️ Date: Saturday, November 4
Start Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
🌙 Main Event Time: 11:00 p.m. ET
💥 Main Bout: Efe Ajagba vs. Joe Goodall
It’s a heavyweight clash that’s sure to have more fireworks than the 4th of July! Ajagba brings a hammer, but Goodall isn’t just a name on a hammer’s hit list.
🖥️ Platform: LIVE on ESPN+
Weigh In Results
The stage is set and the fighters are weighed in for a heavyweight showcase of force with Efe Ajagba tipping the scales at 237.6 lbs, and his opponent Joe Goodall registering at a solid 233.5 lbs. They’re ready to duke it out for Ajagba’s WBC Silver Heavyweight Title over a grueling 10 rounds. The panel of arbiters ringside will be Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca, and Chris Flores, with Tony Weeks donning the referee’s badge for the clash.
In the lightweight division, Raymond Muratalla, weighing a ready 134 lbs, prepares to defend his NABF & WBO Global Lightweight Titles against Diego Torres Nunez, who’s a tad over at 134.8 lbs. They will battle across a 10-round saga with Eric Cheek, Dave Moretti, and David Sutherland scoring the fight, and Celestino Ruiz overseeing the action in the ring.
A quartet of rounds awaits Christian Avalos and Estevan Partida in the lightweight division, both weighing in the 134-pound range, promising a dynamic exchange of skills.
In the junior lightweight division, Henry Lebron and William Foster III are nearly mirror images on the scale, 129.1 lbs and 129.4 lbs respectively, gearing up for a 10-round tactical bout that could escalate into a firefight.
Junior welterweight prospects Omar Rosario and Angel Rebollar are set for an 8-round strategic faceoff, with Rosario hitting the mark at 140 lbs and Rebollar slightly lighter at 137.8 lbs.
Lindolfo Delgado and Luis Hernandez are practically indistinguishable in weight for their junior welterweight 8-rounder, bringing a perfect balance of power and agility to the ring at just over 140 lbs.
Heavyweights Brandon Moore and Robert Simms are locked and loaded for an 8-round rumble, both hovering close to the 235 lbs mark, a testament to their immense power.
The ring will also witness the colossal presence of Antonio Mireles, who outweighs Skylar Lacy by a notable margin in their heavyweight 6-round bout, promising thunderous exchanges.
Charlie Sheehy and Jesus Vasquez Jr. are all set to light up the lightweight division, both fighters tipping just over the 134 lbs threshold for a 6-round tactical showdown.
In the junior lightweight 6-rounder, Gabriel Garcia and Joshua Montoya will go head-to-head, both fighters coming in under 128 lbs, ensuring speed and agility will be on full display.
Middleweight action will see Javier Martinez and Isaiah Wise take the stage, with Martinez having a slight edge in weight for their 8-round middleweight bout that promises to blend power with precision.
