One of the leading American heavyweight hopes is in action this weekend at the Huntingdon Center in Toledo, Ohio, as Jared Anderson tackles former world champion, Charles Martin over a scheduled ten rounds.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank promote and ESPN+ televise Anderson vs Martin in the USA, while Sky Sports air the fight in the UK.
Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) has made an explosive start to his career, with none of his opponents hearing the final bell to date.
The 23-year-old has barely been tested thus far, and he has yet to go past six rounds.
He was out twice in 2022, halting Miljan Rovcanin and Jerry Forrest in two rounds each, and his only 2023 assignment saw him force George Arias to retire after three rounds of their meeting in April.
‘Big Baby’ was due to face Zhan Kossobutskiy here, but the undefeated Kazakh had to withdraw due to a delay in gaining a Visa, and former IBF champion Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs) steps in to replace him.
It was a very brief reign in 2016, with the Missouri southpaw winning the vacant belt when Vyacheslav Glazkov couldn’t continue after a knee injury, and he took the money and ran three months later, wiped out in two by Anthony Joshua.
After a 2018 ten round loss to Adam Kownacki, ‘Prince’ looked to have rendered his career over, but he gained three straight wins, and then gave Luis Ortiz all he could handle in a thrilling up-and-down sixth round stoppage loss in January 2022.
The 37-year-old was last out in September, knocking out Devin Vargas in four.
Prediction: The ambition that Martin showed against Ortiz will be needed here, but it’s more likely that he’s going for the late-notice payday, and I expect Anderson to take care of business before halfway here.
This moment between @RealRoyJonesJr and @TeamBigBabyy will give you chills 🙏 pic.twitter.com/As6QLzKsmF
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 26, 2023
Makhmudov meets Akpejirori
Another heavyweight prospect spearheads the undercard, and Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov (16-0, 15 KOs) should produce another early victory in his scheduled ten rounder against fellow unbeaten, Raphael Akpejiori (15-0, 14 KOs).
When Arslanbek turns on attack mode 😳#AndersonMartin | JULY 1 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/lCudcBgDDj
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 27, 2023
Remaining Undercard
In eight rounders, Jahi Tucker (10-0, 5 KOs) can remain unbeaten by halting Nicklaus Flaz (10-2, 7 KOs) in their super welterweight encounter.
At welterweight, Delante Johnson (8-0, 5 KOs) can outscore Jonathan Montiel (15-1, 10 KOs).
In six round action, Dante Benjamin (6-0, 4 KOs) should stop Mirady Lubanzadio Zola (4-2, 1 KO) at light heavyweight, and at lightweight, Abdullah Mason (8-0, 7 KOs) can win early against Alex de Oliveira (20-4, 14 KOs).
Husam Al Mashhadi (6-0, 5 KOs) can bank a points win at super welterweight against Rance Ward (7-5-1, 2 KOs).
The sole four rounder is at super middleweight, where DeAndre Ward (15-4-2, 9 KOs) should outpoint Decarlo Perez (19-8-1, 6 KOs).
Tyler McCreary (17-2-1, 8 KOs), who lost all ten rounds to Carl Frampton in 2019, returns with an opponent to be confirmed for his super featherweight battle.
