By Vince D’Writer: Due to the fact that his original opponent Zhan Kossobutskiy had to withdraw from the bout because of a visa issue, undefeated heavyweight contender Jared Anderson will now face former IBF world champion Charles Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs) on July 1st, live on ESPN.
The 23-year-old Anderson was a highly touted heavyweight prospect who quickly transitioned into a legitimate heavyweight contender.
After defeating all of his opponents with relative ease, Anderson is currently a heavyweight contender who is ranked 7th by the WBO, 8th by the WBA, and 9th by the WBC.
The last time Jared Anderson competed inside the squared circle, it was two months ago against George Arias. In the first round of the bout, Anderson looked poised and in control as he utilized a steady jab.
In the 2nd round, Anderson continued to work off the jab and followed it up with an occasional right hand. In the last minute of round 2, the naturally right handed Jared Anderson switched to southpaw and landed solid shots to the head and body of his opponent.
With 46 seconds remaining in the third round, Jared Anderson unleashed a flurry of hard shots that left George Arias on unsteady legs. During the final seconds of the round, Arias absorbed more punishment, and as the bell sounded to end the round, the wounded Arias stumbled back to his corner.
Arias suffered a cut on his left eye and swelling around his right eye. He pleaded with his corner to allow him to continue, but his cornermen suggested that the referee put a halt to the contest.
The match was stopped, and Anderson was awarded the win. With the victory, Jared Anderson improved his record to (14-0, 14 KOs). Now on Saturday, July 1st, Anderson will be the Top Rank Boxing headliner for his homecoming event at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
The stakes have been raised as it relates to July 1st because now Jared Anderson will face a higher-level opponent. Charles Martin is an experienced veteran boxer who is a former world champion.
Back in January 2016, Charles Martin defeated Vyacheslav Glazkov and won the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Unfortunately for Martin, he would travel to London three months later and lose to Anthony Joshua by way of a second-round knockout.
The last bout Charles Martin participated in against high-level opposition took place in January 2022 when he faced Luis “King Kong” Ortiz. Martin scored knockdowns in the first and fourth rounds, but Ortiz rallied back and stopped Martin in the sixth round.
Now Charles Martin will be the advance test for the 23-year-old heavyweight contender Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson. Most people consider Anderson to be the future of the heavyweight division, but Martin plans on toning down the hype.
“I’m going to knock Jared Anderson out. I’m going to shake up the whole boxing world,” Martin stated.
As for Jared Anderson, a few questions may receive answers on Saturday, July 1st. For example, the veteran Charles Martin could possibly test Anderson’s chin and ring IQ on fight night.
Despite his success in the ring, Jared Anderson views the sport of boxing as a paid job. When he clocks in for work on July 1st at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, live on ESPN, he will be fighting for the opportunity to place his name in the heavyweight world title conversation.
The 37-year-old former IBF champion Charles Martin accepted the fight on eleven days’ notice, but on the flip side, Anderson only has eleven days to prepare for a former world champion who is a seasoned veteran. However, the change doesn’t seem to phase Jared Anderson as he took to social media and posted, “Different Man Same Plan.”
