What will it take tonight....

[Willow The Wisp]

...To convince you that Jared Anderson is more than just hype?

Say what you want about Charles Martin, he's held a spot in the top 25 for almost a decade, and he's the reason Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz and Oleksandr Usyk ever got to call themselves a heavyweight champion, because he is their title lineage.

In any event he's a big step up for America's new sensation. So what does Anderson have to do to get some buy-in as an honest bet?

[Superbee]

What will it take ?

A dominant performance, that's all... Martin has faced (and lost to) much better opposition... That one isn't in the bag for Anderson...

[Rockybigblower]

Hes needs to stop acting the fool.

[BodiesInFlight]

Anderson is good. I'm just not sure he can walk this earth like a god. Jury is out.

[Willow The Wisp]

Though their ratings may not be the best, they are the deepest, and BoxRec ranks Anderson # 32 and Martin # 44 headed into the fight tonight. Martin is a little lower than what he should be heading in, as ratings are always pretty subjective.
The WBC has Anderson # 9, WBA & WBO # 7, but they may be getting ahead of themselves?

Ragardless, I think an emphatic win tonight launches Anderson well into the top 20 by anyone's reckoning, signaling his transition from prospect to live fringe contender.

Charles Martin, in 33 pro fights, has lost only to Anthony Joshua and Luis Ortiz, two of the best of this era, and a decision to Adam Kownacki, who built his rep on that decision before he fizzled out.

That's plenty to find out if Anderson is real or not.

Props to Jared Anderson for keeping the division moving with a stern test!

As for big Arslanbek Makhmudov, we just don't know enough about Raphael Akpejiori, really. You never know how deep the well goes with an undefeated fighter.
...but we're gonna find out.


Jared Anderson, 14-0-0 (14), 32
Charles Martin, 29-3-1 (26), 44
Arslanbek Makhmudov, 16-0-0 (15), # 18
Raphael Akpejiori, 15-0-0 (14), # 77

[TheIronMike]

It would take Efe Ajaba swapping out with Charles Martin and getting knocked out early for me to start slobbering on his **** like you guys tend to do.

Anderson is good, he's got the same air as Bryant Jennings did when he was coming up.

[_original_]

I mean, even if he whipes out Martin in under 5 (currently my bet) the same cynics will still not show him love.

[baroidi]

decent step up, but Martin is kind of a joke, he won the title, that you emphatically pointed out, because his opponent had an injury during the fight lol. He quickly sold it to Hearn to gift it to Joshua.

[Toffee]

Martin isn't great, but he's at least real.

Any win against Martin puts you in the top part of the division. And winning is all that really matters. But you don't find out if a guy is a future champion by him beating Martin.

Anderson looked very easy to hit.

A pass mark but no better.

[TheIronMike]

Martin isn't great, but he's at least real.

Any win against Martin puts you in the top part of the division. And winning is all that really matters. But you don't find out if a guy is a future champion by him beating Martin.

Anderson looked very easy to hit.

A pass mark but no better.

I think his next fight should be a against Efe Ajaba. A true 50/50 where the winner gets title shot