Tag: Jared Anderson

Fight Week: Jared Anderson to face veteran Ryad Merhy on ESPN

Fight Week: Rising heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face veteran Ryad Merhy on ESPN Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas.

FIGHT WEEK

Rising heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face veteran Ryad Merhy on ESPN Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas.

JARED ANDERSON (16-0, 15 KOs)
VS. RYAD MERHY (32-2, 26 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, April 13
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Odds: Anderson 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Significance (up to five stars): ***
  • Also on the card: Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello, heavyweights; Robson Conceicao vs. Jose Guardado, junior lightweights; Ruben Villa vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon, featherweights
  • Background: Anderson, viewed by many as a future champion, is nearing his first heavyweight title shot even though he’s only 24 years old. The powerful boxer-puncher from Ohio is ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies – as high as No. 4 by the WBO — after a strong 2023. He stopped George Arias in three rounds in April, nearly shut out former titleholder Charles Martin in July and knocked out Andrii Rudenko in Round 5 in August to bolster his position as a top contender. Anderson was arrested twice since the Rudenko fight. He was booked for improper handling of firearms and driving under the influence in November. The next month he pleaded no-contest to the firearms charge and the DUI was dropped. He was fined and received a suspended sentence. Then, in late February in Michigan, he was charged with a felony after taking police on a high-speed chase and crashing into a median. He is due back in court on April 15. Merhy is a 5-foot-11 former cruiserweight who was born in the Ivory Coast but lives in Belgium. The 31-year-old lost a unanimous decision to Kevin Lerena in May of last year in South Africa, Lerena’s home country. However, he bounced back to record his biggest victory in December, a split decision over 6-foot-7 2016 Olympic champion Tony Yoka. Anderson is 6-foot-4.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Angelo Leo vs. Eduardo Baez, featherweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

THURSDAY

  • Erik Bazinyan vs. Shakeel Phinn, super middleweights, Montreal (ESPN+)

SATURDAY

  • Jordan Gill vs. Zelfa Barrett, junior lightweights, Manchester, England (DAZN)

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Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of career-defining KO of Oleksandr Usyk

Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of a career-defining knockout of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in Poland.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST ERROR?
Referee Luis Pabon’s low-blow ruling

Referee Luis Pabon got it wrong. Challenger Daniel Dubois landed a body blow that put titleholder Oleksander Usyk down and hurt him badly in the fifth round of their fight Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, which initially appeared to be the punch of Dubois’ lifetime. Instead, Pabon ruled that it was a low blow and gave Usyk the time he needed to recover, after which he resumed his domination of Dubois and won by a ninth-round knockout to retain his titles. Was the punch illegal? In my opinion, no. I called respected California referee Jack Reiss to get a precise definition of a low blow. He suggested that you find the top of the hip bone – below the navel – and draw a line in your mind across the body. That’s the boundary. Reiss explained that if more than half the glove strays below that line, the referee is justified if he rules a low blow. Now look at the above photo, which shows where the punch landed. The top of the hip bone is at about the bottom of Usyk’s waist band, meaning the majority of the glove is clearly above the boundary line. Thus, my conclusion is that it was not a low blow. Had Pabon made the right call, Dubois would be a unified champion assuming Usyk would’ve been unable to beat a 10 count. As it is, Dubois was deprived of a career-defining victory and millions of dollars going forward. He and his team ad good reason to be devasted afterward.

 

BIGGEST WINNER
Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk ultimately got the job done against Daniel Dubois. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Dubois – and to a smaller degree, his legacy – will always be tainted by the events of Saturday night at Stadion Wroclaw, which was filled with the champion’s Ukrainian countrymen. The majority of those who witnessed the fight seem to agree that Usyk was knocked out by an inferior opponent only to be given a second life by a referee who made the wrong call. And please don’t suggest that Usyk could’ve gotten to his feet had Pabon ruled the punch was legal and begun to count. He clearly couldn’t, based on what we saw immediately after he went down. Alas, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) received a precious gift from Pabon. And, of course, he wasn’t about to question the referee’s ruling. He recovered after about four minutes, got back to business and knocked out Dubois to retain his belts and possibly set up a lucrative showdown with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship this winter if the WBC beltholder gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28. Sometimes good fortune is as important as a fighter’s ability in a sport that can go wonky at times.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Daniel Dubois

Daniel Dubois’ chances of winning came and went in Round 5. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images

Think about what a victory over Usyk would’ve meant to Dubois. He would’ve won the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, which would’ve put the 25-year-old Londoner in a position to face Usyk in a rematch or Fury in a massive event in Saudi Arabia. Either way, we’re talking a windfall – many millions of dollars – for Dubois. That’s gone, thanks to Pabon’s ruling. Instead, Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs) will have to get back in line with the other heavyweight contenders hoping to get a shot at one of the four major titles. And, of course, we can’t be certain that it will ever happen for him. Let’s face it: Aside from the fifth round, he didn’t look great on Saturday. He was outboxed and outworked by a far better fighter. And he went out with whimper. He went down in Round 8 as a result of a flurry of punches, one of which seemed to land on his temple. And he was stopped by a short right from his southpaw opponent in Round 9. It wasn’t an inglorious conclusion to what could’ve been his finest moment. Dubois can still improve; he’s only 25, after all. However, it’s possible that his best chance to become a world champion came and went on a strange night in Poland.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson was at his best on Saturday.  Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

The talented 23-year-old heavyweight contender couldn’t have performed much better than he did against rugged, but crude Andriy Rudenko on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He dominated his overmatched opponent with his jab and power punches thrown in overwhelming combinations, including a wicked body attack that broke down Rudenko and led to a fifth-round stoppage. Anderson looked sensational. Of course, our praise should be tempered. He was coming off a difficult fight against veteran Charles Martin, who hurt Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) and became the first to take him the distance. Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) was selected as the opponent so the rising young contender from Toledo, Ohio, could showcase his skills, make a strong statement and continue to grow as a fighter without facing a serious challenge. Mission accomplished. Anderson claimed the victory, looked good doing it and re-enforced the notion that he’s a legitimate candidate to become the next great heavyweight. Just give him time.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Pabon’s ruling on the phantom low blow arguably wasn’t his most disturbing moment during the fight. His strange behavior after he made the ruling was unprofessional. Usyk had taken a good portion of the five minutes allotted to recover when he clearly told Pabon he was prepared to resume fighting, saying, “I’m ready.” For some reason Pabon ignored the fighter and insisted that he take more time to recover. That’s inexplicable and inexcusable. It also bolsters the contention of Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren that Usyk benefitted from “a hometown decision.” Could Pabon have had a worse night? … The fifth-round of the Usyk-Dubois fight wasn’t the only strange element on Saturday. Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-1, 18 KOs) when the latter was disqualified in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-rounder for excessive holding. I’m not sure why Kossobutskiy bothered to show up. The matchup with Ajagba was a big opportunity for him and he tossed it in the trash, essentially quitting. Maybe his actions can be attributed to what analyst Tim Bradley said, that the fighter from Kazakhstan felt he was fighting both Ajagba and referee Chris Flores. I understand his frustration but a professional must focus on his work, not perceived slights on the part of officials. Another possibility is that Kossobutskiy realized he had no chance to win and simply wanted out.

[lawrence-related id=38695,38645,38661,38642,38650,38639,38636]

Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of career-defining KO of Oleksandr Usyk

Weekend Review: Daniel Debois was cheated out of a career-defining knockout of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in Poland.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST ERROR?
Referee Luis Pabon’s low-blow ruling

Referee Luis Pabon got it wrong. Challenger Daniel Dubois landed a body blow that put titleholder Oleksander Usyk down and hurt him badly in the fifth round of their fight Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, which initially appeared to be the punch of Dubois’ lifetime. Instead, Pabon ruled that it was a low blow and gave Usyk the time he needed to recover, after which he resumed his domination of Dubois and won by a ninth-round knockout to retain his titles. Was the punch illegal? In my opinion, no. I called respected California referee Jack Reiss to get a precise definition of a low blow. He suggested that you find the top of the hip bone – below the navel – and draw a line in your mind across the body. That’s the boundary. Reiss explained that if more than half the glove strays below that line, the referee is justified if he rules a low blow. Now look at the above photo, which shows where the punch landed. The top of the hip bone is at about the bottom of Usyk’s waist band, meaning the majority of the glove is clearly above the boundary line. Thus, my conclusion is that it was not a low blow. Had Pabon made the right call, Dubois would be a unified champion assuming Usyk would’ve been unable to beat a 10 count. As it is, Dubois was deprived of a career-defining victory and millions of dollars going forward. He and his team ad good reason to be devasted afterward.

 

BIGGEST WINNER
Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk ultimately got the job done against Daniel Dubois. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Dubois – and to a smaller degree, his legacy – will always be tainted by the events of Saturday night at Stadion Wroclaw, which was filled with the champion’s Ukrainian countrymen. The majority of those who witnessed the fight seem to agree that Usyk was knocked out by an inferior opponent only to be given a second life by a referee who made the wrong call. And please don’t suggest that Usyk could’ve gotten to his feet had Pabon ruled the punch was legal and begun to count. He clearly couldn’t, based on what we saw immediately after he went down. Alas, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) received a precious gift from Pabon. And, of course, he wasn’t about to question the referee’s ruling. He recovered after about four minutes, got back to business and knocked out Dubois to retain his belts and possibly set up a lucrative showdown with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship this winter if the WBC beltholder gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28. Sometimes good fortune is as important as a fighter’s ability in a sport that can go wonky at times.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Daniel Dubois

Daniel Dubois’ chances of winning came and went in Round 5. Gabriel Kuchta / Getty Images

Think about what a victory over Usyk would’ve meant to Dubois. He would’ve won the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, which would’ve put the 25-year-old Londoner in a position to face Usyk in a rematch or Fury in a massive event in Saudi Arabia. Either way, we’re talking a windfall – many millions of dollars – for Dubois. That’s gone, thanks to Pabon’s ruling. Instead, Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs) will have to get back in line with the other heavyweight contenders hoping to get a shot at one of the four major titles. And, of course, we can’t be certain that it will ever happen for him. Let’s face it: Aside from the fifth round, he didn’t look great on Saturday. He was outboxed and outworked by a far better fighter. And he went out with whimper. He went down in Round 8 as a result of a flurry of punches, one of which seemed to land on his temple. And he was stopped by a short right from his southpaw opponent in Round 9. It wasn’t an inglorious conclusion to what could’ve been his finest moment. Dubois can still improve; he’s only 25, after all. However, it’s possible that his best chance to become a world champion came and went on a strange night in Poland.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson was at his best on Saturday.  Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

The talented 23-year-old heavyweight contender couldn’t have performed much better than he did against rugged, but crude Andriy Rudenko on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He dominated his overmatched opponent with his jab and power punches thrown in overwhelming combinations, including a wicked body attack that broke down Rudenko and led to a fifth-round stoppage. Anderson looked sensational. Of course, our praise should be tempered. He was coming off a difficult fight against veteran Charles Martin, who hurt Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) and became the first to take him the distance. Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) was selected as the opponent so the rising young contender from Toledo, Ohio, could showcase his skills, make a strong statement and continue to grow as a fighter without facing a serious challenge. Mission accomplished. Anderson claimed the victory, looked good doing it and re-enforced the notion that he’s a legitimate candidate to become the next great heavyweight. Just give him time.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Pabon’s ruling on the phantom low blow arguably wasn’t his most disturbing moment during the fight. His strange behavior after he made the ruling was unprofessional. Usyk had taken a good portion of the five minutes allotted to recover when he clearly told Pabon he was prepared to resume fighting, saying, “I’m ready.” For some reason Pabon ignored the fighter and insisted that he take more time to recover. That’s inexplicable and inexcusable. It also bolsters the contention of Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren that Usyk benefitted from “a hometown decision.” Could Pabon have had a worse night? … The fifth-round of the Usyk-Dubois fight wasn’t the only strange element on Saturday. Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-1, 18 KOs) when the latter was disqualified in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-rounder for excessive holding. I’m not sure why Kossobutskiy bothered to show up. The matchup with Ajagba was a big opportunity for him and he tossed it in the trash, essentially quitting. Maybe his actions can be attributed to what analyst Tim Bradley said, that the fighter from Kazakhstan felt he was fighting both Ajagba and referee Chris Flores. I understand his frustration but a professional must focus on his work, not perceived slights on the part of officials. Another possibility is that Kossobutskiy realized he had no chance to win and simply wanted out.

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Watch it: Jared Anderson’s brutal fifth-round KO of Andriy Rudenko

Watch it: Jared Anderson’s brutal fifth-round KO of Andriy Rudenko on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson knocked out grossly overmatched Andriy Rudenko at 1:40 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder to remain unbeaten Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Check out the 23-year-old’s brutal knockout below.

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Watch it: Jared Anderson’s brutal fifth-round KO of Andriy Rudenko

Watch it: Jared Anderson’s brutal fifth-round KO of Andriy Rudenko on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson knocked out grossly overmatched Andriy Rudenko at 1:40 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder to remain unbeaten Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Check out the 23-year-old’s brutal knockout below.

[lawrence-related id=38645]

 

Jared Anderson dominates, stops overmatched Andriy Rudenko in fifth round

Jared Anderson dominated and then stopped overmatched Andriy Rudenko in the fifth round Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Andriy Rudenko was the perfect opponent for Jared Anderson.

Anderson, coming off a tough test against capable veteran Charles Martin, dominated and then knocked out the grossly overmatched Ukrainian in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rudenko had gone the distance with the likes of Alexander Povetkin and Zhilei Zhang, which made Anderson’s knockout particularly impressive.

Anderson was understated in his post-fight interview in the ring in spite of the dramatic ending, an indication that he knows his victory was just another step toward realizing his goals in the sport.

“You know I’m just staying calm, staying patient, listening to my corner, just enjoying it, enjoying the ride, enjoying the fights and just doing my job,” he said.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) was rocked by Martin in the fifth round and was taken the distance for the first time in his young career in their July 1 meeting.

His handlers’ response to that? Pair him with a rugged, but crude 39-year-old opponent who would not be a serious threat to their rising star.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) dominated Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) from the outset. He used his jab to set up a high volume of power shots thrown in combinations, including many punishing blows to Rudenko’s big body.

And while Rudenko tried to fire back — when he wasn’t holding — he landed few punches of his own, the result of Anderson’s defensive abilities.

By the final round, Rudenko had simply taken too many punches from Anderson. The 23-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, was pounding Rudenko against the ropes unmercifully and nothing was coming back, which prompted the referee to stop the fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:40 of Round 5.

Anderson landed 72 punches to Rudenko’s body, according to CompuBox. That was more than half of his total punches landed, 141 (to only 38 for Rudenko).

He said the focus on the body was part of his strategy.

“It was definitely part of the plan,” he said. “We just know that you start with the body and the head will fall. That’s exactly what we started with. And you saw it worked.”

Anderson is ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies, as high as No. 5 by the WBO, in spite of his youth.

If he continues to win, a shot at a world title isn’t far off. And if he fights anything like he did on Saturday, he could have success when the opportunity comes.

Jared Anderson dominates, stops overmatched Andriy Rudenko in fifth round

Jared Anderson dominated and then stopped overmatched Andriy Rudenko in the fifth round Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Andriy Rudenko was the perfect opponent for Jared Anderson.

Anderson, coming off a tough test against capable veteran Charles Martin, dominated and then knocked out the grossly overmatched Ukrainian in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rudenko had gone the distance with the likes of Alexander Povetkin and Zhilei Zhang, which made Anderson’s knockout particularly impressive.

Anderson was understated in his post-fight interview in the ring in spite of the dramatic ending, an indication that he knows his victory was just another step toward realizing his goals in the sport.

“You know I’m just staying calm, staying patient, listening to my corner, just enjoying it, enjoying the ride, enjoying the fights and just doing my job,” he said.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) was rocked by Martin in the fifth round and was taken the distance for the first time in his young career in their July 1 meeting.

His handlers’ response to that? Pair him with a rugged, but crude 39-year-old opponent who would not be a serious threat to their rising star.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) dominated Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) from the outset. He used his jab to set up a high volume of power shots thrown in combinations, including many punishing blows to Rudenko’s big body.

And while Rudenko tried to fire back — when he wasn’t holding — he landed few punches of his own, the result of Anderson’s defensive abilities.

By the final round, Rudenko had simply taken too many punches from Anderson. The 23-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, was pounding Rudenko against the ropes unmercifully and nothing was coming back, which prompted the referee to stop the fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:40 of Round 5.

Anderson landed 72 punches to Rudenko’s body, according to CompuBox. That was more than half of his total punches landed, 141 (to only 38 for Rudenko).

He said the focus on the body was part of his strategy.

“It was definitely part of the plan,” he said. “We just know that you start with the body and the head will fall. That’s exactly what we started with. And you saw it worked.”

Anderson is ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies, as high as No. 5 by the WBO, in spite of his youth.

If he continues to win, a shot at a world title isn’t far off. And if he fights anything like he did on Saturday, he could have success when the opportunity comes.

Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko: LIVE updates, official results, full coverage

Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko: LIVE updates, official results and full coverage.

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson knocked out grossly overmatched Andriy Rudenko in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:40 of Round 5.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) dominated his tough, but crude Ukainian opponent from the outset. He used his jab to set up a high volume of power shots, including many punishing blows to the body, and was defensively responsible.

In the final round the 23-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, was pounding Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) against the ropes and nothing was coming back, which prompted the referee stop the fight.

You can read a full report here.

***

Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) by a fourth-round disqualification in a scheduled 10-rounder.

The fight was stopped 33 seconds into Round 4.

Kossobutskiy was docked two points for low blows in Round 3 and landed one more punch below the belt the following round, prompting the referee to DQ the 34-year-old from Kazakhstan.

Ajagba has now won back to back fights since he was outpointed by Frank Sanchez in October 2021.

***

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face Andriy Rudenko tonight (Saturday) at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN, ESPN+).

Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over veteran Charles Martin in July, the first time an opponent took him the distance.

Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs) is a journeyman from Ukraine.

The featured bouts on the card begin at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT. The main event will take place later in the show.

Boxing Junkie will post the result of the main event and other featured bouts immediately after they end. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

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Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko: LIVE updates, official results, full coverage

Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko: LIVE updates, official results and full coverage.

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson knocked out grossly overmatched Andriy Rudenko in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:40 of Round 5.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) dominated his tough, but crude Ukainian opponent from the outset. He used his jab to set up a high volume of power shots, including many punishing blows to the body, and was defensively responsible.

In the final round the 23-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, was pounding Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) against the ropes and nothing was coming back, which prompted the referee stop the fight.

You can read a full report here.

***

Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) defeated fellow heavyweight contender Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) by a fourth-round disqualification in a scheduled 10-rounder.

The fight was stopped 33 seconds into Round 4.

Kossobutskiy was docked two points for low blows in Round 3 and landed one more punch below the belt the following round, prompting the referee to DQ the 34-year-old from Kazakhstan.

Ajagba has now won back to back fights since he was outpointed by Frank Sanchez in October 2021.

***

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson is scheduled to face Andriy Rudenko tonight (Saturday) at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN, ESPN+).

Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over veteran Charles Martin in July, the first time an opponent took him the distance.

Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs) is a journeyman from Ukraine.

The featured bouts on the card begin at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT. The main event will take place later in the show.

Boxing Junkie will post the result of the main event and other featured bouts immediately after they end. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

[lawrence-related id=38608,38602,37985,37980]

Opinion: Jared Anderson developing into top contender, not overhyped

Opinion: Jared Anderson is developing into a top contender, meaning he has not been overhyped.

What does Jared Anderson’s most recent performance say about him?

The 23-year-old heavyweight contender defeated veteran Charles Martin by a near-shutout decision this past July to retain his perfect record. However, Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) went the distance for the first time and had to endure some harrowing moments, leading some to suggest that he isn’t ready for prime time.

That might be true but it makes no sense to dismiss him as overhyped as he prepares to face veteran Andriy Rudenko on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN+).

Every young fighter experiences growing pangs, which can serve to hone his or her skills. The talent is there. Said Martin, who had a short reign as a titleholder and has faced a number of top heavyweights: “The dude is crafty as a m—–f—–.”

Television analyst and Hall of Famer Tim Bradley was among those who suggested that Anderson has a lot of room to grow 15 fights into his professional career.

Bradley was asked by ESPN whether Anderson is ready for the top heavyweights.

“No, not yet,” he said. “After seeing his performance and seeing the punches that he was getting hit with as he was pulling straight back, he’s not ready.”

Anderson’s handlers appear to agree with Bradley given the choice of opponent for Saturday night. Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs) is a significant step down from Martin in terms of the threat he poses to Anderson.

The 39-year-old Ukrainian is durable, as he demonstrated by going the distance with Alexander Povetkin, Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang. However, he lost one-sided decisions in those and other fights and was stopped for the first time against unbeaten countryman Vladyslav Sirenko two bouts ago.

In other words, he has almost no chance to win on Saturday, which is probably how those in Anderson’s corner want it after what has been perceived as a tough test against Martin.

But how difficult was it?

Anderson took the fight to Martin and outworked him from the opening bell, including a knockdown in Round 3. His trial by fire came in Round 5, when Martin rocked him with a straight left halfway through the round and  followed with more hard lefts as Anderson shifted into survival mode.

Anderson was in serious trouble but, demonstrating impressive resilience, he remained on his feet, survived the most harrowing moment of his career and went back to dominating the fight.

According to CompuBox, he outlanded Martin in all but the fifth round and 157-85 overall. He also connected on 53% of his power punches.

“Even when I rocked him he was able to maneuver to get out of the way,” Martin said. “He’s going to be a champion, definitely going to be a champion.”

Was it a great performance? No. But it was convincing. And, more important, it was a valuable experience that will make Anderson a better fighter going forward.

After all, he had only 29 professional rounds under his belt going into the fight.

“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.”

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