Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio – In a crossroads heavyweight fight, Jared Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) was tested like he’s never been in the past, as the rising contender had to overcome getting hurt and was taken the distance for the first time in his career to decision former IBF world champion Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) over ten rounds.
The scores were 98-91, 99-90 and 99-90.
Martin accepted the fight on eleven days’ notice after Zhan Kossobutskiy withdrew with a visa issue.
Martin was under a lot of pressure in the contest and suffered a knockdown in the third round.
He was able to create a big moment for himself in the fifth, when he rocked Anderson with several hard shots and had the undefeated boxer on unsteady legs.
Anderson was able to weather the storm and began to apply a lot of pressure in the second half of the contest.
Martin had his moments, including another big shot that staggered Anderson in the closing moments of the tenth and final round.
The 37-year-old veteran has now lost two of his last three, but he also showed that he still has a lot left in the tank.
“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,” Martin said.
“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 maneuver and get out the way. He’s going to be a champion.”