CARSON, California – Veteran Amir Mansour represented the biggest test of Efe Ajagba’s young career on the Shawn Porter-Yordenis Ugas card on Saturday but he ended up like all but one of the Nigerian’s opponents.

 

Ajagba, the 6-foot-5 heavyweight prospect, put Mansour down twice in the first round and battered him relentlessly the second, which prompted Mansour and his cornermen to get out while he was still in one piece. He stayed on his stool rather than test Ajagba in Round 3, ending the fight.

2 Knockdowns in 1 minute ?. Ajagba putting on a show in the 1st! pic.twitter.com/nR4miBFMOl

— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) March 10, 2019

Ajagba is best known for a fight that didn’t take place, when Curtis Harper ran from the ring at the opening bell rather than face Ajagba last September.

 

His next three opponents understand Harper’s feelings. Ajagba (9-0, 8 knockouts) stopped his next two foes in the first round before manhandling the 46-year-old Mansour (23-4-1, 16 KOs).

 

Mansour was game for a while but quickly became overwhelmed. He went down first from a short right and then again from a left in the opening round. He managed to remain on his feet in the second but, in his opinion, took too many hard punches to continue fighting.

 

Ajagba presumably will continue to fight better and better opponents as builds toward a title shot.

 

“I want to be the best heavyweight in the world,” he said. “That’s my dream.”