Via Robert Segal: Heavyweight Jared Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) was injured multiple times en route to a decisive 10th round win over former IBF champion Charles Martin (28-4-1, 26 KOs) on Saturday night at Huntington Center, Toledo.
Scores are:
In the tenth inning, Anderson made the mistake of celebrating with 40 seconds left in front of the waiting crowd. Moments later, Martin nailed Anderson with a monstrous left kick to the head that knocked him to his knees.
You could argue that heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov would have beaten Jared Anderson if he had faced him tonight. He was a much better boxer than Anderson, who used the pullback for the entire bout.
Martin then tried to finish off the wounded 23-year-old Anderson but was grabbed and held.
Overall, Anderson has not been an impressive performance as he has been hurt too many times by Martin, 37, 37, who is not one of the major players of the tournament.
Martin injured Anderson with a left-handed header in the third round, and he was further injured by additional shots.
The 37-year-old Martin blew his chance when he was unable to attack in the sixth round, defaulting to Anderson doing nothing.
In the seventh inning, Martin caught Anderson with multiple left hands as he advanced. But just like in the previous round, Martin went around the ring too much and let Anderson control the pace.
By the eighth round, Martin was starting to look tired and had nothing left to punch. In the ninth inning, Martin caught Anderson with a hard header from the left in the final seconds, which seemed to take him by surprise.
Martin was knocked out in the third round when his foot caught Anderson. The referee still decided it was a knockdown, but apparently in the replay Martin tripped over the lead of 23-year-old Anderson.
In the fourth round, Anderson continued to attack, launching some nice shots with a series of punches that hit Maartin in the head.
Result under tag:
In the main assist round, undefeated lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (9-0.8 KOs) knocked out Alex de Oliveira (20-5, 14 KOs). Mason cornered de Oliveira in the second half and knocked him out with a header.
.@AbdullahMason_ sent him packing EARLY#Anderson Martin NEXT on @ESPN pic.twitter.com/Xsc9aMRPUY
– Top boxing (@trboxing) July 2, 2023
De Oliveira has nothing to fend off Mason, as he is being hit with shots at will, and he can’t keep him honest with any punches he throws.
Referee James Easter then stopped the game at 2:18 of the second half.
No. 5 heavyweight contender WBC Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked out Raphael Akpejiori (15-1, 14 KOs) with baton twice on his way to the second knockout round in a scheduled tenth round.
Makhmudov, 34, knocked Akpejiori out with multiple hooks in the first round and unleashed rabbit punches with his right hand. Near the end of the inning, Makhmudov caught Akpejiori with a nice right-handed header that knocked him down.
Akpejiori was in survival mode from the first opening bell, repeatedly grabbing Makhmudov to try to hold him back, but to no avail. The referee ordered both fighters to stop wrestling, but it was clear that it was only done by Akpejiori.
ARSLANBEK IS A REAL UPZER 💥#Anderson Martin | NEXT on @ESPN pic.twitter.com/o7KyQ1zcDB
– Top boxing (@trboxing) July 2, 2023
Unbeatable featherweight superweight Tiger Johnson (9-0.5 KO) goes to n round eight unanimous decision against Jonathan Montrel (15-2, 10 KO). Johnson has too much firepower for Montrel, as he shoots him down with shots and handles his return with ease in this disproportionate position.
Scores: 80-72, 80-72, and 80-72.
Other results:
Dante Benjamin Jr. KO 1 Mirady Zola. 1:56.
DeAndre Ware KO) UD 6 Decarlo Perez. Score 58-56, 59-55, and 59-55.
Rance Ward MD 6 Husam Al Mashadi. Score: 58-57, 59-55, and 57-57.
Tyler McCreary UD 6 Deivi Julio. Score: 59-54, 57-56, and 57-56.
Nicklaus Flaz (MD 8 Jahi Tucker. Scores 76-76, 78-74 and 77-75.
