Unbeaten heavyweight contender Jared ‘Real Big Baby’ Anderson will face former cruiserweight Ryad Merhy on April 13th as the headline bout on an ESPN fight in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Lingering Doubts After Martin Fight
Anderson, who is promoted by Top Rank, will need to impress in this fight, as there are doubts about his potential as a future champion. His recent loss to Charles Martin was concerning, especially considering the amount of unwarranted hype he had received leading up to that point.
Anderson seems to have adopted a lackluster fighting style similar to Shakur Stevenson, which is ineffective in the heavyweight division and lacks excitement for viewers.
In order to make an impact in the division and gain a larger fan base, Anderson will need to abandon this style quickly. Top Rank and ESPN do not need another fighter resembling Shakur.
Merhy: A Step Up in Age, Not Quality
In terms of age, Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) is a step up from the opponents Anderson has previously faced. However, he is not on the same level as Charles Martin, who gave Anderson a tough time in their fight last July.
Merhy, a professional for 11 years, does not possess the same level of skill as Martin, which suggests that Top Rank has concerns about Anderson’s ability to compete against powerful and talented fighters.
The main issue with Merhy is that his record is padded with victories against unknown opponents. When he did face more formidable opponents, such as Kevin Lerena and Arsen Goulamirian, he suffered defeats.
The Need for a Real Test
Anderson is ranked #4 WBO, #6 IBF, #6 WBC, and #12 WBA, but he has yet to defeat any notable opponents. It is crucial for Top Rank to match him up against someone with talent to determine if he is worth investing in. If Anderson fails to prove himself, it may be time to move on to other prospects.
According to the Source boxingnews24.com