Former IBF world heavyweight champion Charles Martin gave upcoming star Jared Anderson the biggest test of his career so far this past weekend.
Martin, who took a year out of the ring following his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in 2016, has been up and down ever since returning, losing to Adam Kownacki and Luis Ortiz but beating Gerald Washington, amongst other fights.
At the Huntington Center in Toledo, however, he pushed ‘The Real Big Baby’ the distance for the first time in his career. Matin was sent to the canvas in the third, but unlike all of Anderson’s other 14 opponents, he managed to get back up and here the final bell.
Martin, who only took the fight on 11 days’ notice, troubled Anderson in both the fifth and the final round, but ultimately lost a clear decision with the scoreboards reading 98-91, 99-90 and 99-90.
It can be seen as a learning fight for the much-hyped Anderson and one that proved Martin still has plenty in the tank despite being 37 and losing for the third time in a row.
After the fight, Martin offered his views on the prospect, predicting a bright future for the 23 year-old.
“I took the fight on 11 days’ notice. I did the best I could. He’s a real champion. He’ll be making his way to the top soon.
I’m proud of him. He’s really good. He’s a crafty boxer. Usually, when I catch somebody and hurt them, I can finish them. If they don’t fall, usually I can follow up and put them away. But he is like a little middleweight. He is crafty. He was able to get out even when he was rocked.
He was able to manoeuvre and get out the way. He’s going to be a champion.”
Anderson will be looking to get back out soon to come good on Martin’s prediction, though former fighter Tim Bradley believes he has some way to go until he’s challenging the top four heavyweights.