Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Heavyweight Jared Anderson will fight Marios Kollias in the Keyshawn Davis vs. Dennis Berinchik match on February 14 at the Hula Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Lance Pugmore @pugboking broke the news that ‘Big Baby’ Anderson is fighting Kollias on the Keyshawn-Berinchik undercard. It’s a relatively safe fight for Anderson, 25, but not entirely because he’s been hurt multiple times in his career by lower-level opposition.
Mandatory win for Anderson
This isn’t a great opponent for Jared Anderson, but he looked so bad in his last fight that he doesn’t look ready for world class opposition. I don’t know if it ever will be, but that’s Top Rank’s problem. At this point, Jared is what you consider a project and shaky.
This will be the first fight for Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) since he was knocked out in the fifth round by Martin Bacole on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Not surprisingly, Top Rank chose an unknown fighter, pitting Jared against 33-year-old Greek Kolias (12-3-1, 10 KOs). The way Anderson was let down by Bakole in a three-knockdown loss would be a crazy move to put him against. Anderson was knocked out in the first round and twice more in the fifth by Bakola.
Jared fought well in rounds two through four, and looked to be in control until Bakole hurt him again in the fifth.
Should the top rank drop Jared if he loses?
If Anderson loses this fight, Top Rank may have to consider releasing him. They were counting on Jared to become their next heavyweight star, but worrying signs emerged early on when he was stunned by journeyman Jerry Forrest and then re-injured by former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin.
On November 16, Kolijas wins by knockout in the first round over Tamaz Izoria. Before that, he was defeated by Cam Ljungqvist via a 10-round majority decision on March 9 last year.
In the main event, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keeshon Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) will challenge WBO lightweight champion Berinchik (19-0, 9 KOs). Top Rank is accelerating Keyshawn, 25, into his career, matching him with Berinchik in his fourth year as a pro.
It could be a mistake on Top Rank’s part to move Davis so quickly as he hasn’t fought anyone as well as he did against 2012 Olympian Berinchik and was stunned against Nahir Albright.
Keyshawn has shown no interest in fighting Cuban Andy Cruz, who has beaten him four times in the amateurs and owns him. He is probably still haunted by those defeats and wants to stay away from his conqueror.
Davis will be fine as long as Top Rank protects him from good opposition, but if they pair him with someone with talent, he’ll likely fall apart again.
