The heavyweight division still proves to be the most polarizing in boxing, no more so than will the collapse of a promised 33-0 battle.
Fans looking forward to a massive pre-title battle were forced to face the fact that yet another heavyweight clash won’t happen as a weed garden of negativity grows around the top division.
The undefeated Jared Anderson battling Zhan Kossobutskiy at 14-0 and 19-0, respectively, dissipated without a trace. The collapse announcement for the bout on July 1 was replaced on a Top Rank show.
Visa problems that should have been sorted out weeks ago killed the fight contest stone dead. Charles Martin stepped in and gave Anderson a small test, but it was not good enough. In a nutshell, it was a far lighter test.
The fans deserve promised bouts that are canceled for reasons promoters should have covered.
Heavyweight division fails
Anderson should have gone up against the man known as the “Heavyweight GGG” in a massive collision of two world title prospects. Instead, he faced “Prince” Charles – a brief holder of the IBF title who got demolished by Anthony Joshua – who we now know was a weaker champion himself.
Compared to Kossobutskiy, it was an easy test for “The Real Big Baby.”
The Kazakh would have provided much sterner opposition. The pair have shown glimpses of world-class through their journeys so far.
Kossobutskiy is a ferocious puncher in his own right. He claims a 95% KO ratio to Anderson’s impressive 100%.
A massively heavy hitter, Anderson has stopped five of his opponents in the first round. He’s blitzed another five in the second.
In 2020, he garnered global attention as Tyson Fury’s primary sparring partner, but he is now carving his own path.
Visa problems sorted
Ranked at No. 7 by the WBO and No. 11 by both the WBC and WBA, Anderson is widely tipped to be the next big puncher in the sport.
In another twist, Kossobutskiy will return to the United States this weekend after his visa problems are sorted. But he won’t be facing Anderson for some strange reason.
Instead, he goes up against Efe Ajagba, a Top Rank heavyweight who has already suffered defeat.
The Anderson vs Kossobutskiy fight was tipped to launch the dawn of a new era in the heavyweight division but is now another victim of boxing politics.
Between Wilder vs Andy Ruiz Jr. collapsing, Fury facing a UFC fighter, and no undisputed battle, top-division boxing is the current joke of the sport.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of experienced boxing writer Phil Jay.
