Jared Anderson: The Last Dying-Gasp Hope For American Heavyweight Boxing?

Is Jared Anderson the last dying-gasp hope for American heavyweight boxing?

The undefeated contender’s bout this Saturday against the heavy-handed Martin Bakole may be a “do or die” moment for the domestic big-man game in the States. Slated for the undercard of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov show at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, the bout is a big deal for Bakole, but it carries an exaggerated vibe of importance for Anderson and the US heavyweight scene.

One look at the BoxRec heavyweight rankings might confirm the extreme “this is America’s last stand” take on the future.

The 24-year-old Anderson sits atop the rankings, ahead of Michael Hunter, Jarrell Miller, Richard Torrez Jr., and Deontay Wilder. He’s one of just two American heavyweights under 30 in the Top 10 and, arguably, the only one of the bunch who is on a true main stage upward trajectory.

On the same undercard, Jarrell Miller vs. Andy Ruiz (who is unranked by BoxRec due to inactivity) could, arguably, be considered a bout between the two best active American heavyweights not named Jared Anderson. That, right there, should speak volumes about the sad shape of the American heavyweight scene.

Anderson sure ticks off all the boxes when it comes to what a true heavyweight star needs to ascend.

Blessed with quick hands and feet, a sturdy 6-foot-4 frame, good power, and a bit of a mean streak, the Toledo, Ohio native also has the gift of gab and a hefty dose of charisma. He has everything a new age heavyweight boxing star needs.

All that’s missing is the body of work. And, although his resume is still being built with high-water mark wins over the likes of Charles Martin, George Arias, and Vladimir Tereshkin, the Congolese banger, Bakole, represents a different kind of test.

The once-defeated 32-year-old is the first opponent in Anderson’s career not coming in as an underdog B-side expected to lose.

That’s a big deal, psychologically, for Anderson and a test, not only for his main stage readiness, but also for his will as a fighter.

“August 3 is going to be huge for me and for boxing in America,” Anderson recently told Mail Sport. “This is going to be a card that shows what America means to boxing and the influence that I have on the sport.”

We’ll see.

For what it’s worth, Anderson’s promoter Bob Arum believes that his fighter is the real deal.

“Jared’s up for the challenge. I think he’ll do well. But Bakole is a very, very tough fighter,” Arum told Sky Sports. “[He has a] great punch. But we have confidence that Jared will beat him and Jared has the ability, we believe, to go all the way in the heavyweight division.

“I think he’s going to be a future champion, Tyson [Fury] told me as much early on. They had sparred together. I think Jared is a very, very good fighter. He’s now become a real professional. This is his biggest test yet and I think he’ll come through well. But we’ll see.”

“I like his chances,” Arum continued. “This is the history of boxing. A fighter beats various opponents on his way up, some not so good, some good, some step-up fights and then he goes in with a guy who’s a real step-up fight and if he comes through then you know you have something really special and that’s the kind of fight he’ll have on August 3.”