Next weekend, Jared Anderson, one of American boxing’s most promising heavyweights, is set to take on Martin Bakole on undercard of Terence Crawford‘s clash with Israil Madrimov.
Anderson, who has rapidly risen through the ranks with his impressive performances, sees this fight as another crucial step towards cementing his place as a future champion.
But beyond the glitz and glory of the ring, Anderson’s journey is deeply personal. The young fighter, driven by a desire to provide for his family, reflects on how boxing has been his lifeline.
Anderson – who has been in and out of trouble with the law – told Mail Sport about how he would have ended up in prison or ‘dead’ without the discipline and purpose sport has given him.
For Anderson, this fight is more than a career milestone; it’s a testament to how boxing has provided him with a path to a better future for his loved ones.
Next weekend, Jared Anderson, one of American boxing’s most promising heavyweights, is set to take on Martin Bakole on undercard of Terence Crawford ‘s clash with Israil Madrimov
Anderson, who has rapidly risen through the ranks with his impressive performances, sees this fight as another crucial step towards cementing his place as a future heavyweight champion
During his ring walk on August 3, Anderson will pay tribute to a friend that recently passed away due to street violence—an issue close to his heart.
The 24-year-old believes that without boxing, he might have shared the same tragic fate, potentially ending up ‘in prison or dead’ like some of his friends.
‘I think about it all the time because I know deep down inside, I would probably be dead or in jail if it had anything to do with me.
‘Also, without my mum I would probably be dead or in jail. That was all I knew, to do what everybody else was doing around me. Boxing helped me separate myself from that lifestyle.
‘I would never let myself get dragged into that now. I have learned and I have seen what this world can offer. I’ve been to Germany, I’ve been to Russia, I’ve been to all these different countries, all these different places.
‘I am more than grateful for what boxing has done for me. It’s shown me a different way of life and that’s what I try to do now in my neighborhood, to show other people that there’s different ways to make money, different ways to enjoy life, rather than being trapped in such a small mindset that you can’t leave or that you can’t get out of doing the things that you do.’
Despite being just 24 years old, Anderson has quickly risen through the ranks of professional boxing to establish himself as a promising heavyweight contender.
Known for his impressive power, Anderson has been dubbed the ‘next face of American boxing,’ a title that carries both significant promise and pressure.
Beyond the glitz and glory of the ring, Anderson’s journey is deeply personal. The young fighter, driven by a desire to provide for his family, reflects on how boxing has been his lifeline
His journey, however, has not been without its challenges, including legal troubles and personal struggles that have tested his resilience outside of the ring.
Anderson is looking to turn the attention back to his boxing on August 3 when he takes on Bakole on the Riyadh Season card in Los Angeles.
‘August 3 is going to be huge for me and for boxing in America’, Anderson 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’.
‘I think it’s going to be huge and I truly believe it will be a master class on boxing. There are a lot of great fighters on the undercard of Terence Crawford‘s clash with WBA light-middleweight world champion Israil Madrimov.
‘I think everybody’s going to show a little something different, the big boys are a completely different style from Bud or myself. So I think it’s gonna be a lot of just real fights.’
Anderson acknowledged Bakole as a ‘good fighter,’ but confidently asserted that he knows how to ‘exploit’ the weaknesses of a man reputed to have troubled Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in sparring.
‘I think he’s a good fighter. I don’t think he’s bad. I do think he has flaws, just like anybody else, and I want to show that I know how to exploit him. I think he a decent fighter. He has a pretty good record. I don’t think he has fought all bums or anything. I just don’t think he’s fought anybody to my calibre’.
Anderson’s professional career has been characterised by a series of dominant performances. Known for his knockout power, he boasts an undefeated record with a 88.2 per cent knockouts-to-fights ratio with 15 of his total 17 fights being knockout wins.
One of the most pivotal moments in Anderson’s career came during an emotional conversation with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. Jones (pictured above)
Some of Anderson’s most notable victories include wins over George Arias, Miljan Rovcanin, Ryad Merhy, Vladimir Tereshkin, Oleksandr Teslenko, Jerry Forrest, and Jeremiah Karpency.
But, one of the most pivotal moments in Anderson’s career came during an emotional conversation with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. – who is known for his own illustrious career and for mentoring young fighters.
The retired American boxer provided Anderson with guidance and perspective that resonated deeply.
The conversation, which took place in 2022, was a turning point for Anderson, who was grappling with the fallout from his personal issues and the immense pressure of being an emerging star.
During this conversation, Jones emphasised the importance of discipline, focus, and making the right choices not only inside the ring but out of it. Jones shared his own experiences and explained how he coped with the pressure he was under during his career.
Jones told Anderson that a ‘higher power’ had given him the ability to box in the way that he does and encouraged him to use his talent to secure a future for him and his family.
Anderson, visibly moved, acknowledged the weight of his decisions and the impact they could have on his future. He expressed gratitude for Jones’s mentorship and vowed to make the necessary changes to align his actions with his boxing aspirations.
However, the burden of being labeled ‘America’s next big thing’ was clearly weighing on Anderson – who repeatedly stressed that he was only 23 at the time and never sought out the talent he was born with.
During his interview with Mail Sport, Anderson opened up about the pressure he has experienced, explaining how he never had a typical childhood as he was forced to mature quickly after his brother was imprisoned for aggravated robbery and involuntary manslaughter.
The (now) 24-year-old also revealed how the expectation to provide for his family was pushed onto him. He said: ‘I’ve had to mature and move my life along faster because of reasons outside of boxing alone.’
Anderson went on to add: ‘My brother went to jail when I was 13. He was the oldest, and really at that time, he was the man of the house.
‘So that that alone made me grow up and made me come to the realisation that I have to, you know, be there for a lot of other people that would need me to be there for them.
‘I also had to learn respect for people that were in that position, having to look after others because of expectations on them. I did end up getting my brother’s dad in my life around that time too.
‘We bonded together really well, eventually. He is one of my best friends now. He is definitely my father figure, he is the one that I look up to the most and he’s been a huge help.
‘I just try to be the person version of me I can be because I know at the end of the day, I do have a ton of people rooting for me and a ton of people expecting me to deliver. So, that’s what I bank on. The love and support I get back home. That’s my motivation to keep me going.’
Anderson’s talent and potential remain undeniable. He has been touted as the next major American heavyweight, a title that carries immense expectations. This mantle comes with the responsibility of not only winning titles but also reviving the American heavyweight scene, which has been dominated by international fighters in recent years.
Despite aspiring to become the next face of American boxing, Anderson admitted that he wasn’t obsessed with the sport itself. Instead, his passion stemmed from the camaraderie and sense of brotherhood it provided, along with the structure it brought to his life.
‘I’ve spoken before about what boxing means to me. It’s okay but it’s a means to an end. I don’t always love the sport. I have love for the sport but I don’t always love the sport.
‘I found love in it as a kid. It kind of made me. I think I fell in love with the sport more because of the brotherhood than the actual sport itself. I’ve had a lot of different stable mates like Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, Troy Isley and many more.
‘In my adolescent days, I fell in love with the fact that everybody would show up for each other you know. We were there for each other and had each other when we needed.
‘It really made me care for the sport. So, I think that’s why I am still here now. That’s why I haven’t walked away. To this day, I still think if it was all about money, I wouldn’t do it.’
The 24-year-old American heavyweight also credited boxing with keeping him out of trouble and pushing him to become a better man.
‘I wasn’t a horrible kid, but I definitely gave my mum some issues, and boxing helped regulate a lot of those issue. Boxing made me into a better man, to be honest, all around better man.
‘Everyone from my coach to my peers helped me become a better man. I feel like I was more of an anti social kid and being around all of my peers and traveling with them kind of helped me mold into the man I am today.’
Looking ahead, Jared Anderson’s future in boxing is bright, but it is also fraught with challenges. The heavyweight division is highly competitive, with numerous contenders vying for the top spot.
Anderson will be looking to take one step closer to his dream of becoming a world champion by defeating Bakole on the Riyadh Season card taking place in Los Angeles next week.
The pair will meet on the undercard of Crawford’s clash with WBA light middleweight champion Madrimov on August 3, with Anderson claiming a victory will open doors to the big names in the division.
The event in LA will be presented by Riyadh Season under His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA).
The highly-anticipated card will mark the Kingdom’s first boxing event outside of Saudi Arabia, with His Excellency Alalshikh proving he has the ability to put on history-making fights around the globe.
Alalshikh, along with the boxing world, are expecting fireworks from Anderson on fight night. However, there has been a lot of speculation about the American’s ring walk.
Anderson is known for having elaborate ring walks, having dressed as the Grinch, a poisoner and a bull dog in the past. But, next weekend’s costume will have an sentimental touch
Anderson is known for having elaborate ring walks, having dressed as the Grinch, a poisoner and a bull dog in the past. But, next weekend’s costume will have an sentimental touch.
‘I will be devoting my ring walk to my friends who passed away. It may not be the biggest or the best idea, but hopefully it still gives everybody a good impression of me and lets them know my feelings towards my friends.
‘But, yeah, as far as a actual costume or outfit, it’ll be something devoted towards them, you know, with their names and stuff on it. And hopefully everybody still enjoys it and enjoys the song that I decided that I’m doing.’
