By Jim Calfa: Unbeaten heavyweight Jared Anderson says he’d like to face highly-ranked contender Arslanbek Makhmudov “soon.” The two are sharing the same Top Rank-promoted card on July 1st live on ESPN & ESPN+ from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) is headlining against undefeated Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) in a 10 round fight.
For his part, Makhmudov (16-0, 15 KO) faces Raphael Akpejiori (15-0, 14 KOs) in a 10 round chief support bout on the card. That would say a lot of Top Rank were to match the 23-year-old Jared Anderson against the #5 WBA and #5 WBC Makhmudov because he would be giving away a lot of age against the 33-year-old Russian fighter.
We don’t know how rugged Anderson is because he’s been matched strictly against lesser opposition during his four-year professional career. What we do know is Anderson gets hit a lot and lacks defense. Against a fighter with power like Makhmudov, it could be a disaster for him.
“He’s slow; he’s just strong. I think he’s a front-runner. Easy Fight,” said Jared Anderson to ThaBoxingvoice about his belief he’d beaten Zhilei Zhang.
“He’s a southpaw and slower than most. It’s just another fight,” said Jared about his next contest against 34-year-old Zhan Kossobutskiy on July 1st. “I think it’s going to be a cakewalk. I’m already acclimated to southpaws. I’m already training for it. I’m really ready.
“It’s a countdown now. I don’t have the slightest idea how close it could be or is,” said Jared when asked about the possibility of his fighting Arslanbek Makhmudov next.
“I’m ready whenever. When it happens, it happens. Hopefully, it happens soon. Soon or later, but we’re ready. I like him as a fighter, I think he’s strong, but I think I’m the better fighter. So let’s see what happens.
“I’m happy that Bob [Arum] has the confidence in me. I’m excited to show him that his confidence in me is right, and I’m going to prove him right and the world wrong that I can’t do it and everyone that has doubted me.
“I just think that with me and him on the same team, we can’t be stopped. We plan on taking over the world and going all over the world and kicking a**.
“Bound to happen, Joe Joyce gets hit a lot. So it was always bound to happen against somebody who can punch,” said Anderson about Joyce’s sixth round knockout loss to Zhang on April 15th.
