Jared Anderson’s victory over Charles Martin wasn’t spectacular but it was productive.
The 23-year-old heavyweight failed to score a knockout for the first time in his career, defeating his veteran opponent by a one-sided unanimous decision in a 10-round bout Saturday at Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, Anderson’s hometown.
However, he gained valuable experience against a veteran opponent. And, in a harrowing minute-plus in Round 5, he proved that he could survive adversity.
Big Baby dropped Martin to end round 3 😵 #AndersonMartin pic.twitter.com/IQvas3htIh
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 2, 2023
Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) said afterward that he appreciated the opportunity to get some work under his belt. He had never been past six rounds.
“I just wanted to make sure I could go the distance, that I had it in me,” he said. “Especially I wanted to be able to withstand power for the whole 10 rounds. He had power until the last round.
“I was just happy to get the rounds in.”
Anderson controlled most of the fight, stalking a backpedaling Martin, fighting behind is stiff jab and landing more than enough power shots to win rounds.
His biggest punch came in Round 3, when a cupping right hand put Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) onto his behind with only a few seconds remaining on the clock. Martin, who hadn’t done much to this point, survived and went back to fighting on his back foot.
Then, when Martin began to stand his ground in Round 5, the fight suddenly got interesting. A straight left from the former titleholder rocked Anderson about halfway through the round and he followed with more accurate left hands as Anderson shifted into survival mode.
It was the greatest adversity Anderson has faced in his young career. And he got through it.
He got back to outboxing and outworking in the next round and never found himself in trouble again, which accounts for the fact that he lost only one round on two cards and two on the third.
He was asked whether he was hurt badly in the fifth.
“Do I feel I got hit with a good shot and was stunned? Nah,” he said. “But I do feel he hit me with a good shot and made me aware. Yes, I had to readjust. I was like, ‘Oh, damn, he hit me with a good shot.’ So I had to readjust and get back into my game plan.”
Martin, who took the fight on less than two weeks notice, was impressed with Anderson.
“He’s really good,” Martin said. “He’s a crafty boxer. Usually when I catch somebody and hurt them I can finish up, I can follow up if he’s still standing up … and put him away. He’s like a little middleweight. The dude is crafty as a m—–f—–.
“Even when I rocked him he was able to maneuver to get out of the way. He’s going to be a champion, definitely going to be a champion.”
Anderson is ranked in the Top 10 of three of the four major sanctioning bodies, meaning a title shot is on the horizon if he continues to win.
However, he seemed to imply that it’s too early for him to begin calling out the biggest names in the division. Of course, he’s willing to fight everyone. His focus now, though, is simply to continue to improve.
He has fought only 41 rounds as a professional, including the 10 on Saturday.
“No specific names,” he said when he was asked who he wants to fight next. “Everybody in the Top 10. Why not? Let’s get it on.” He was then asked whether his priority is keeping busy. “100 percent active. I want to try to get two more fights this year.”