Stephan Shaw declares he will be the next American heavyweight world champion and calls for Dillian Whyte in the UK | Boxing News

Stephan Shaw says he is confident he will become America’s next heavyweight boxing champion and beat Britain’s Dillian Whyte in his upcoming bout.

30 years from St Louis, Missouri, had the opportunity to make a statement on Friday night when he faced the dangerous Efe Ajagba in New York, living in Sky Sports Arena at 1 o’clock on Sunday morning.

Shaw has amassed a perfect 18-0 record, with 13 knockouts, since turning pro in 2013, but his career finally gained real momentum last year as he racked up three impressive victories.

“I feel like this is a great opportunity for me,” Shaw said Sky Sports. “It will bring more eyes and let the world know that Stephan Shaw is a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division.

“I just want to show that I’m among some of the best in the world. Not just heavyweights, just some of the best fighters in the world.

“I want to show that I can beat someone of this caliber and I’m very confident that I can do that.”

While Deontay Wilder is once again active and looking for a chance to become a two-time world champion after losing to Tyson Fury, the USA is desperate for a new star in boxing’s most popular division.

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Unbeaten 23-year-old Jared ‘Big Baby’ Anderson has been touted as the future of American heavyweight boxing, but ‘Big Shot’ Shaw remains in the first row.

“Really, I think I’m the next American heavyweight champion of the world,” he said.

“I’ve been doing this for a few minutes, it’s sad that the eyes just came to me, I’ve been a pro since I was 21 years old, and I always wanted eyes for me.

“It’s not like other guys fighting top-level competition that make people like, ‘oh, he’s beaten a big fighter.’ Only he got a major level TV spot against C level fighters.

“And here I am, my first main event, and I’m fighting a fighter with an Olympic background.”

Had things gone as expected, Shaw might have become a household name in England.

“I love fighting in England,” Shaw said. “I’m supposed to fight Jermaine Franklin in 2021 and it will be my first main event fight, and I remember before the fight, Eddie Hearn had said that the winner of our fight could be Dillian Whyte’s opponent.

“But Jermaine Franklin withdrew on four days’ notice with Covid. Then fast forward, he got the Dillian Whyte fight.

“I’m happy to get that opportunity. Franklin is not up against anyone of his caliber, nowhere near Efe Ajagba, to reach that plateau.”

Whyte beat Franklin by majority decision after a close contest at Wembley Arena in November.

“He did well against Dillian Whyte, and I think he will do better,” added Shaw. “I think I can, and I can beat Dillian Whyte.

“I think it’s going to be a good fight.”

Watch Ajagba vs Shaw live on Sky Sports Arena at 1am on Sunday.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith on Friday 21st January, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book now if you are a subscribe to Sky TV or a Non-Sky TV customers. Buy tickets here.