By Matt Lieberman: Former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs) and the unbeaten Jared Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) met today for their final press conference to talk about this Saturday’s bout between them at the Huntington Center in Toledo.
It was a low-key back & forth between the 37-year-old Martin and the younger 23-year-old Top Rank-promoted Anderson. Unlike other headliner fights, Anderson and Martin weren’t going for the throat with their comments about Saturday’s 10-round clash.
Anderson vs. Martin is part of a doubleheader, with heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov fighting Raphael Akpejiori in a 10-rounder. The Anderson-Martin event will be shown at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
Charles Martin: “I’m either going to do that, or I’m going to get out of the sport. So I dedicated myself fully. I just thank God that I’m still here and still relevant because this is a hard sport and an unforgiving sport. I’m just thankful to still hit a big stage to support my family. I have two autistic twins. To fight for them is really hard, really rough,” said Charles Martin at today’s final press conference for his fight against Jared Anderson.
“Life does hit you hard, and when it hits you hard, you got to get back up to take care of business. Everything,” said Martin when asked what a win over Anderson would mean to him. “I want to get a trilogy with Fury. I want to ride off into the sunset. I want to be done with this. I’m 37 years old, and I want to be done with it, too as well.
“I love this sport. For a while, I lost the love for the sport because I felt the love wasn’t reciprocated. I had to rekindle that flame. I’ve always been a hard worker when I’m in the gym doing my thing, but I had dark moments in the sport. It had to catapult me back to where I am today.
“Taking care of my kids. I have seven of them. I want an acre home in Georgia that I could have a horse ranch,” said Martin about his dreams for after he finishes his career in boxing.
Jared Anderson: “You see a show from the time I walk out to the time I do the post-fight interview. You’re going to see entertainment. You’re going to see a show. That was one of the biggest things I picked up from Roy. I just picked up that you got to be an entertainer.
“I didn’t get into this sport to be an actor, but I found out the best way to get through it is to act. I’m going to be here to do my job, to entertain, have fun while I’m doing it and enjoy the road while I’m on it.”
