At the heart of Texas in Corpus Christi’s American Bank Center, unbeaten heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson and Ryad Merhy stood face to face, setting the stage for their anticipated Saturday night ESPN clash.
Anderson, confident and prepared, shared, “Expect the best version of me. I’m ready to shine, dominate, and prove my place...Dealing with the speed of smaller fighters was part of our prep, but honestly, I see no major hurdles. Being adaptable is my strength, and preparation is key.” On the other side, Merhy emphasized, “They called me out, and now I’m here to show Anderson has miles to go. My extensive ring experience, totaling 177 pro rounds compared to Anderson's 46, will undoubtedly make a difference.”
The co-main event pits Nigerian powerhouse Efe Ajagba against Italian phenom Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello in a battle of 2016 Olympians. Ajagba, eager to display his evolution since their sparring days, stated, “I’m curious to see Vianello’s approach...but don’t expect me to fight as I sparred.” Vianello responded, “Knowing each other’s styles makes this all the more exciting. I’m ready to see how it unfolds in the ring.”
Kicking off the televised fights, Brazilian three-time world title challenger Robson Conceição faces Jose Guardado. Coming off a hard-fought battle with Emanuel Navarrete, Conceição reflected, “That fight was a war from which I learned a lot. I’ve prepared extensively for this fight and feel a title shot is on the horizon.”
Image Credit: Top Rank