Stephan Shaw KO's Raphael Akpejiori in 33 Seconds

Hanover, Maryland -Stephan Shaw made a thunderous statement Saturday night in Maryland, reminding the heavyweight division that his redemption arc is far from over.

The 32-year-old from St. Louis wasted no time in dismantling Raphael Akpejiori, scoring a brutal first-round knockout just 33 seconds into their scheduled bout at Maryland Live Casino in Hanover. Shaw, now 21-2 with 16 knockouts, rocked his opponent early with an overhand right and two left hooks before finishing the job with a crushing left-right combination that left Akpejiori slumped on the ring apron — unconscious and unable to continue.

The referee waved off the bout immediately, with no count necessary. It was the kind of knockout that turns heads — not just for its violence, but for what it might mean in a division constantly searching for who’s next.

For Shaw, the win marked his third consecutive victory, following back-to-back defeats last year to Efe Ajagba and Joseph Goodall. Those losses appeared to derail his momentum as a rising American contender, but Shaw has stayed active, recalibrated, and is now punching his way back into the conversation.

Akpejiori, a 34-year-old based in Miami with a strong knockout ratio of his own, falls to 18-2 (17 KOs). He entered the fight on a three-win streak, but was clearly overwhelmed by Shaw’s timing, accuracy, and early aggression.

While Shaw was once considered a slow-burning prospect with a polished style, the urgency and authority he displayed Saturday night signaled a potential shift in mentality. This wasn’t the measured, jab-heavy Shaw of earlier fights — this was a heavyweight looking to make up for lost time.

Whether this performance vaults him into a meaningful fight in 2024 remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that he just reminded the division he exists — and he’s dangerous.