It took him nearly 10 years, but “The Silent Roller” finally exacted revenge tonight.
Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) defended his WBC Silver heavyweight title with a fourth-round stoppage over Australia’s Joe Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs) Saturday evening at Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Ajagba and Goodall fought as amateurs in 2014, with Goodall earning a decision. This time, however, Ajagba demonstrated just how much better he’s gotten.
Ajagba began the contest by landing jabs and right hands, though Goodall had some success in closing the distance.
The 29-year-old Olympian then began landing right uppercuts in round three that wobbled Goodall. In round four, a one-two combo initiated a series of combos that forced referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight at the :50 mark.
Goodall was coming off a dramatic knockout victory over Ajagba, who was taken the full distance by Shaw in a close fight.
Ajagba is now ready and willing to face the best fighters of his weight class.
“It’s been long. I was out of boxing for a long time. When I came back with Stephen Shaw {in January 2023}, my confidence was not there. I had just come back from surgery, and I had to get back into shape. But right now, I came back with full confidence. That’s why I took him out,” Ajagba said.
“{My team} pushed me in training camp. They made me work extremely hard in this camp to make sure I win the fight. I sparred a lot of different guys to make me stay strong.
“Whoever they offer me to fight, I’m ready to go. I will go back with my team to talk about that.”