Jared Anderson: Want To Return As Soon As Possible
Jul 19, 2020 • 9:20 PM ET
With a second summer fight under his belt, Jared Anderson is ready for another.
The unbeaten heavyweight prospect scored his second ESPN-televised knockout in as many months, this time getting rid of Florida’s Hector Perez (7-3, 3KOs) in just 105 seconds Thursday evening at MGM Grand Conference Center (“The Bubble”) in Las Vegas.
The bout came in stark contrast to Anderson’s previous ring appearance, going a career-deepest three rounds before stopping Johnnie Langston on the undercard of a Shakur-Stevenson headlined June 9 show in the very same venue. The hope was for Thursday’s bout to go some rounds, but just didn’t work out that way.
"That was too quick,” Anderson (5-0, 5KOs) told BoxingScene.com after the win. “I got him out of there and implemented what I’ve been working on in the gym.”
The bout was delayed by a week after Perez showed accelerated levels of testosterone from a post-fight urinalysis produced following a June 18 win in this same location. Anderson used the downtime to focus on what got him here, committed to make enough of a statement to keep coming back as long as promoter Top Rank is armed with summer dates and willing to offer an available slot.
“I want to return as soon as possible. I leave that in the hands of my promoter, but when they give me a date, I’ll be ready. It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me.”
There is one opponent in particular that Anderson would love to have step to him.
“Any of these guys who have fought in the ‘Bubble,’ I’ll fight them,” Anderson said before getting more specific. “I told everyone (at Top Rank), I’d really like to fight Kingsley Ibeh. I want opponents that will test me and where I can prove what I’m capable of.”
Ibeh (5-1, 4KOs) posted two ESPN-aired wins in a span of just one week, avenging his lone career defeat with a 4th round stoppage of Waldo Cortes on June 25 before returning seven days later to outpoint previously unbeaten Patrick Mallata on a July 2 undercard.
“Ibeh someone they say can provide that, so I’m ready for that challenge,” insists Anderson.
Another opponent might have to be sought. BoxingScene.com has learned that Ibeh will now face Italy’s Guido Vianelli on a July 21 ESPN show topped by former featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez in a 10-round clash versus Puerto Rico’s Jayson Velez.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
