The unbeaten 23-year-old heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin in the 10-round main event bout at the Huntington Center in Toledo, live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
Originally, Anderson was set to meet 34-year-old Kazakhstan’s Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs), but Kossobutskiy pulled of the fight out due to visa problems.
Since debuting in the paid ranks in 2019, Anderson has quickly risen to the top as a contender, never going beyond the sixth round and stopping half of his opponents in the first two rounds. In 2020, he gained worldwide recognition as Tyson Fury’s main sparring partner but has since been making a name for himself, recently knocking out the previously undefeated George Arias in the third round. Currently ranked No. 7 by the WBO and No. 11 by both the WBC and WBA, the 23-year-old is now setting his sights on the division's leading fighters. Anderson expressed his excitement to return home and perform for his supporters, acknowledging that their backing has fueled his career thus far.
Charles Martin, from Las Vegas, knocked out 2004 U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas in the fourth round of his last fight. Martin's upcoming match against Anderson presents a pivotal point in his career. For Anderson, this fight represents a significant opportunity to solidify his standing within the heavyweight division and showcase his abilities against a seasoned, accomplished fighter.
In the co-main event of the evening, NABA and NABF heavyweight titleholder Arslanbek Makhmudov (16-0, 15 KOs) makes his US debut facing undefeated 6’8 Raphael Akpejiori (15-0, 14 KOs).
Fresh off a staggering first-round knockout of Michael Wallisch in December 2022, Makhmudov has his sights set on proving his mettle. Crowned the “2022 Champion of the Year” by the NABF and currently holding the 5th spot in the WBC’s global rankings, this fearsome fighter is primed to make waves in his American debut. With a high-stakes 10-round bout on the horizon, Makhmudov is determined to send shockwaves through boxing’s elite division and leave an indelible mark on the sport.
Main card:
▪️Jared Anderson vs. Charles Martin, 10 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Raphael Akpejiori, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Undercard:
▪️Jahi Tucker vs. Nicklaus Flaz, 8 rounds, junior middleweight ▪️Tiger Johnson vs. Jonathan Montreal, 8 rounds, junior welterweight ▪️Abdullah Mason vs. Alex de Oliveira, 6 rounds, lightweight ▪️Tyler McCreary vs. Deivi Julio, 6 rounds, junior lightweight ▪️Dante Benjamin Jr. vs. Mirady Zola, 6 rounds, light heavyweight ▪️Husam Al Mashhadi vs. Rance Ward, 6 rounds, junior middleweight ▪️DeAndre Ware vs. Decarlo Perez, 6 rounds, super middleweight
