Over in Toledo, Ohio, heavyweight phenom Jared Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) was primed to go head-to-head with former IBF champion Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) in a contest that promised to be a thrilling encounter. Simultaneously, Wuppertal, Germany was setting the stage for an intense clash between its home-grown talent, middleweight Vincenzo Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs), and Brazil’s former Olympic silver medalist Esquiva Falcao (30-1, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF middleweight world title.
Back in Toledo, the tension was palpable as 23-year-old Anderson stepped into the ring against Martin. The former IBF champion, Martin, put up a tough fight against the rising star Anderson, landing several powerful blows that left Anderson on shaky ground multiple times throughout the contest. Yet Anderson demonstrated grit and determination, even when he made a misstep by celebrating with 40 seconds left in the tenth round, which almost resulted in Martin seizing the opportunity for a late-round knockout.
Official fight highlights:
In the undercard, Abdullah Mason (9-0, 8 KOs) left no room for doubt, halting Alex de Oliveira (20-5, 14 KOs) with a cracking right in the second round. Elsewhere on the card, heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs) showcased his strength and tactical prowess, flooring Raphael Akpejiori (15-1, 14 KOs) twice in their ten-round bout, earning a second-round knockout. The crowd also enjoyed an exhilarating display of skill and power by Tiger Johnson (9-0, 5 KOs), who eased past Jonathan Montrel (15-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight contest, securing a unanimous decision victory. Meanwhile, Dante Benjamin Jr., DeAndre Ware, Rance Ward, and Tyler McCreary emerged victorious in their respective bouts.
Across the Atlantic, the Unihalle Wuppertal was packed with fans eagerly awaiting the fight between Gualtieri and Falcao. The fight for the vacant IBF middleweight world title was a back-and-forth affair, with Gualtieri managing to stun Falcao several times. Gualtieri was credited with a knockdown in round two and another in round ten, asserting his dominance and setting the tone for the rest of the bout.
Sharing the spotlight in the German ring was Etinosa “Chapo” Oliha (18-0, 8 KOs) and Julio Alamos (16-1, 9 KOs), who squared off for the vacant IBO middleweight world title. The fight was a competitive display of boxing prowess, with Alamos pushing Oliha to the edge. Despite a knockdown that was controversially ruled a slip and a serious cut on the bridge of his nose, Alamos pressed on, delivering a strong round eleven. However, Oliha’s powerful connects proved decisive, securing him the unanimous decision victory.
Image Credit: Top Rank