Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) went the distance for the first time, as he defeated former world champion “Prince” Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) via 10-round unanimous decision Saturday evening in front of 7,234 hometown fans at Toledo’s Huntington Center.
Anderson’s athleticism helped him win many early rounds as he constantly pressured Martin while pulling away to avoid any return fire. In the third round, he switched to southpaw and dropped Martin with a counter right hook.
The 23-year-old knockout artist looked to finish, but the experienced Martin survived. By the fifth, Anderson slowed a bit, which allowed Martin to hurt him with several left hands.
Anderson adjusted by returning to his jab and increasing his output to the body, outlanding Martin in the later rounds. Anderson retained his WBO International and WBC USA titles with scores of 98-91 and 99-90 2x.
Anderson said, “It felt great. I had my team with me. I got my family with me. I got Toledo with me. They showed up and they’re in the building. They were with me the entire 10 rounds. I heard them all the way through. I’m grateful for my opponent. He took the fight on short notice. He came and performed really good. I think we put on a hell of a show for Toledo.
“I wanted to go the distance. It was my first time. I just wanted to make sure that I could go the distance and especially be able to withstand power the whole 10 rounds. He had power until the last round, and I was happy to get the rounds in.
“I think I took his best shots very well. I don’t think there was a time in the fight where I looked unsteady or where I couldn’t hold my own. Did feel like he got me with a good shot and stunned me? No. But do I feel like he got me with a good shot and made me aware? Yes, so I had to readjust and get back to the game plan.”