Jared Anderson, the heavyweight contender with a record of 16-0 and 15 knockouts, is set to headline a Top Rank-promoted card on ESPN on April 13th. The location for the event will be the American Banks Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. It will be interesting to see who Bob Arum, the promoter, selects as Anderson’s opponent for this fight. Hopefully, they choose a formidable adversary who can provide a challenge for the 6’4″ Anderson. It is evident that Anderson has been making improvements in his skills, which is a cause for concern for his future opponents.
In the past, Anderson has been protected and carefully matched against opponents who are not at his level. However, there comes a point where a fighter must be tested against tougher competition. It is like throwing them into the deep end to see if they can swim with the best. Anderson’s previous fight was a dominant fifth-round victory over Andriy Rudenko in August of last year. Top Rank had initially wanted Anderson to face Luis Ortiz, a 44-year-old veteran, but negotiations fell through due to Ortiz’s high financial demands. It is unclear what Anderson would have gained from that fight, considering Ortiz’s age and declining skills.
Anderson’s recent opponents, Rudenko and Charles Martin, were both significantly older than him. It may have been a mistake for Anderson to turn professional at such a young age, as he would have benefited from gaining more experience against top-level competition in the amateur ranks. By facing lower-level opposition, Anderson is wasting valuable time that could be spent developing his skills against younger and more talented contenders.
To truly assess Anderson’s potential in the professional ranks, he needs to be matched up against younger fighters who can test his abilities. In his fight against Charles Martin, the former IBF champion, Anderson showed vulnerability as he was hurt twice during the bout. One instance occurred in the final seconds of the fight when Anderson prematurely celebrated, allowing Martin to land a powerful left hook that staggered him. It was a lesson in humility for Anderson, highlighting the need for him to focus on his craft and not engage in showboating.
As the April 13th headliner on ESPN approaches, Top Rank must carefully select a suitable opponent for Jared Anderson. It is crucial that they choose a young and talented heavyweight who can truly push Anderson to his limits and provide a true test of his abilities.
According to the Source boxingnews24.com