Heavyweight hopeful, Jared Anderson, is no stranger to fighting on big cards. In October he stopped Vladimir Tereshkin in two rounds on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III bill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This weekend he faces Oleksandr Teslenko at the Madison Square Garden in New York, as the chief supporting bout to Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey.
It's clear that the brass at Top Rank believes he is a key piece of their future. Many pundits believe he's the best American heavyweight prospect. There may not be a heavyweight under the age of 25 better than he is.
In an era when many big men come into the sport only after hitting a wall in other sports, Anderson was a boxer first and foremost while growing up in Toledo, Ohio.
Just 22 years old, he has scored 10 knockouts in 10 fights. But unlike many other prospects, he isn't in any particular rush. There will be no bold proclamation about title shots in the next few fights, or anything of that nature.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
"It's completely up to my team," Anderson told SNAC.com. "I know people hate when you say that but that's just me. I believe in the process, and I stand behind those who have my best interest at heart. People who have been there and done it before. That's where I am where I am in my life because I listen to my elders and those who have been there before."
Anderson, who made his professional debut in 2019, is managed by James Prince, and co-promoted by Antonio Leonard.
"So I leave it up to them, and hopefully it'll come sooner or later," he says.
Asked about this last outing, Anderson stated, "I give myself a seven-and-a-half out of 10. There were some flaws I saw in there. I wasn't as sharp, it took me a second to warm up, and when I did it was too late. But again, I saw some flaws in the beginning. I got hit, so it took it down from an eight."
Jared Anderson vs Vladimir Tereshkin | FULL HIGHLIGHT | PBC ON FOX
As you see Anderson, you see a fighter with the requisite size and stature (he's 6'4 and weighs in the 240's) who moves around the ring smoothly, has a solid ring IQ, and has above average power in both hands. To top it off, he possesses he ability to switch hit.
His overall skills have lead him to be used by Fury the past couple of camps in Las Vegas.
"It's been a great experience, I appreciate it," said Anderson. "It's great work."
Bob Arum, the founder of Top Rank is bullish on his future.
"I'm really excited, not only from what I've seen of him in the ring -- and I've seen all of his fights -- but Tyson Fury tells me that he is the next heavyweight champion of the world after him. He gives Fury hell in the ring,'' says the veteran promoter.
Mikey Williams and Top Rank
While most of his past fights have been on the ESPN+, this upcoming assignment comes right before the nights main event on the main network. Anderson describes Teslenko, thusly, "He's shorter than me, the fight before he got stopped, in his 30's. I personally think he's a natural born cruiserweight, and he's orthodox with a European style."
And after that, well, he'll let the grown ups handle that. But he is pleased with his professional progress.
"I think I'm moving great," he says.
ARUM
Having just celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this week, Arum has no designs on slowing down any time soon.
"We've got to celebrate my birthday, and then for my next decade we'll figure out the next shows,'' he said this past Wednesday."
He says that the idea of doing a heavyweight card featuring the next crop of big men (like Anderson) has been discussed. As well as doing a card that will be heavy on their new batch of Olympians.
"We've talked about those kind of events, we have all these great Olympians," Arum said. "We'll have Keyshawn Davis on this card, a future star. In February, we have in Fresno, Richard Torres, we have Duke Ragan, Troy Isley, Tiger Johnson, so again, to do a card with all these young fighters, or to do an all-young heavyweight card with Tony Yoka, Jared Anderson, and a number of other heavyweights that we have, I think that would be very appealing."
For Arum, the joy isn't in just doing major cards. He says that it's in, "both doing big events, and even more so, developing fighters into stars. That to me, makes it all worth it."
SNACthlete
Anderson utilizes SNAC products during his training. And what's his favorite product?
"ProGlycosyn," was his answer. "I'm big on the recovery and stuff."
3KR
Here's a link to this weeks '3 Knockdown Rule' on Triller with Mario Lopez and myself:
Lopez & Kim React to Kambosos Dethroning Teofimo & More | The 3 Knockdown Rule Ep. 10 | Triller TV
FINAL FLURRIES
Anderson is rather subdued when talking about his career or boxing in general, but he certainly perks up when you bring up his beloved New England Patriots. "I love Mac Jones. That's my guy, now. That man is good," he said, excitedly.....There will be four fights on this upcoming ESPN broadcast... On Saturday afternoon, DAZN will have a card featuring the match-up between Conor Benn and Chris Algieri....Chip Kelly back to Oregon? That would be interesting..... Geez, Roman Roy really had to send that pic to the wrong person, huh?.....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com.....
