Jared AndersonThe future is bright.
if The heavyweight phenom can stay committed to boxing — and stay out of trouble.
These are some big “what ifs” for the 24-year-old, who is expected to be the next face of American heavyweight boxing.
Anderson had a solid 2023 season, competing three times, most notably defeating the former heavyweight titleholder. charles martin By unanimous decision.
This promising performance came after Anderson openly admitted that his love and passion for boxing was waning and he dreamed of retiring by the age of 27.
After his last fight in August, “Big Baby'' found himself in major trouble outside of boxing and had two run-ins with the law. In February, Anderson was charged with a felony for leading police on a high-speed chase. In November, he was arrested for drunk driving and improper handling of a firearm.
Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs), the expectant father, hopes to hit the reset button on his life and career by returning to the ring in Saturday's match. Riad Mary (32-2, 26 KOs) will be the headliner card at American Bank Center (ESPN) in Corpus Christi, Texas.
“I was living my life. It's what it is. You just do what you can and take it as it comes,” Anderson told BoxingScene. “People make mistakes. I made them. I do what it takes to make those mistakes right. It won't happen again. It's just a bump in the road.” … I learned that I have to be a boxer 24/7, not just when the fight is coming up.”
Keeping Anderson fully focused on the fight, he may be his toughest opponent.
Anderson said his passion for the sweet science began to wane during the pandemic.
“At that time, it was right after the bubble burst. [in Las Vegas from 2020 to 2021]” said Anderson. “It was fun and I was still a kid. I still enjoyed what I was doing. After [the pandemic], I felt differently about sports. I started to see the world and sports as they really are. It's a hypocritical sport. That's why I disagree with so many things.
“That's a lot. I could go on all day long. It's a world of the fittest when it comes to business. And you have fans and commentators and you can't do anything right there. Even if you do something good, it won't last. Because the moment you make a mistake, no matter what it is, you get criticized and it has a completely different impact on your career.”
Anderson is being coached by his Top Rank boss Bob Arumco-promoter antonio leonard and manager james prince There's a collective effort to help him get back on track.
First, they told Anderson to put the brakes on his driving so they could better assist him at the wheel of the carrier.
“The biggest thing they've kept telling me is to stay the course and keep trying to get better every day, and then they'll see that celebrity come along and put me on the world's attention map. When I say, 'Yes, I'm 100 percent prepared, I don't need to be prepared,''' Anderson said.
Arum has big plans for Anderson.He wants Anderson to face opponents like deontay wilder, joseph parker, Zhang Zhilei and Joe Joyce Be in a position to become “'' by 2025heir to the throneas a sparring partner of Tyson Fury predicted that he would win the heavyweight title by 2026.
“I feel like I'm progressing pretty well and I'm taking the next step,” Anderson said. “My plan is to make my money work for me once I'm done boxing. I've grown up very business-minded. I want to work without doing physical labor. My plan is to make as much money as possible. That's the thing. I'm very marketable. I can talk the talk and I can walk the walk. I'm all about being a showman when I'm in the ring, and inside the ring it's all work.”
Anderson said he hopes to earn between $50 million and $75 million in his boxing career and ride off into the sunset.
A lucrative fight with Wilder would accelerate his plans to earn a significant purse.
“I’m ready for tomorrow,” Anderson said. “I respect Deontay. I think he's got a hell of a punch. But he can't beat me, and I'm going to leave it at that. I'm a balanced guy. He's a great boxer, so I'm going to beat him in a great way.”
Before Anderson is served Wilder's main course, he first has to taste what appears to be an appetizer from Mahy, a former cruiserweight contender now operating as an undersized heavyweight in his U.S. debut. be.
While Mahy is trying to make a name for himself in America, Anderson is looking to prove he has what it takes to become the face of American boxing.
“I want to look sharp and I want to make the most of this opportunity and I'm going to look easy,” Anderson said.
