Heavyweight knockout artist Jared Anderson scored the sixteenth win of his career as “The Real Big Baby” won in Tulsa.
The 23-year-old fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, defeated Ukrainian contender Andriy Rudenko. Anderson triumphed via fifth-round TKO Saturday evening at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Anderson, now 16-0 with 15 KOs, took control of the fight in the opening round with sharp jabs and combinations to the body.
Rudenko, who was frustrated with Anderson’s offense, began to grab him by the back of his head to prevent the onslaught.
Jared Anderson wins
In the third, Anderson teed off with a relentless attack to the body, but Rudenko survived, partly aided by his continual headlocks.
In the fifth round, Rudenko was finally deducted a point, but another flurry from Anderson forced referee Gary Ritter to end the fight at 1:40.
After the victory, Anderson said: “I’m enjoying the ride, enjoying the fights, and just doing my job.
“I was sending a statement to myself. I’m fighting for myself. I’m fighting for my family.
“As much as people want to hate on me for it, I’m a realist. I’m going to stay real and be real.
“And I’m going to say what’s on my mind. You all can take it how you want. This is a business. This is a sport. I’m just doing my job.
“Take it how you want. You can’t force me to be somebody you want me to be. I’m going to be myself. And I’m going to be that till the end.”
Jalolov
Also on the bill, heavyweight rival – the Uzbek Olympic gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov – made a successful Top Rank debut.
Jalolov stopped Onoriode Ehwarieme in the first round. The stoppage time was 2:06 as Jalolov went 13-0 with 13 KOs.
Other results:
Middleweight: Sona Akale (8-1, 4 KOs) scored an upset majority decision win after six highly competitive rounds against Nico Ali Walsh (8-1, 5 KOs). Ali Walsh landed uppercuts and hooks that wobbled Akale, but the Cameroon-born Akale edged rounds based on pressure to secure the victory. Scores: 57-57 and 58-56 2x.
Lightweight: 19-year-old southpaw prodigy Abdullah Mason (10-0, 9 KOs) overcame his most formidable challenge to date with a six-round unanimous decision win over rugged Colombian Cesar Villarraga (10-8-1, 5 KOs). Scores: 60-54 3x.
Welterweight: Kazakh Olympian Ablaikhan Zhussupov (4-0, 3 KOs) defeated Nicaraguan-born veteran Wiston Campos (33-12-6, 19 KOs) via fifth-round TKO. Zhussupov dropped Campos in the fourth round. Campos’ corner threw in the towel in the following round. Time of stoppage: 2:52.
Junior Lightweight: Filipino contender Charly Suarez (16-0, 9 KOs) earned a 10-round unanimous decision victory against Yohan Vasquez (25-4, 20 KOs). Scores: 98-92 2x and 97-93.
