Heavyweight Jared Anderson on February 14 at the Hula Theater inside Madison Square Garden in New York. He'll be facing Greek native Marios Kollias, according to Lance Pugmore. It's Anderson's first fight since being stopped in the fifth round by Martin Bakole last August, a three-knockdown loss that left many questioning whether the 25-year-old remains a top prospect.
Top Rank is understandably treading cautiously here, as Anderson has been hurt on multiple occasions - against Jerry Forrest and Charles Martin - before Bakole flattened him. This matchup looks designed to build back Anderson's confidence. Yet, with the way he got dropped three times in his last outing, even a moderate threat could produce another upset. If he stumbles again, some believe Top Rank might consider cutting him loose altogether.
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Kollias, 33, is coming off a first-round knockout of Tamaz Izoria in November, but he lost a 10-round majority decision to Kem Ljungquist last March. While not a big name, he’s hoping to capitalize on Anderson’s shaky momentum and turn the night into a huge upset.
The main event features WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk defending his belt against 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis. Some feel Davis is taking a big leap here, considering Berinchyk’s pedigree. Either way, the doubleheader at MSG offers a compelling storyline: two young fighters, Anderson and Davis, both with lingering question marks, each looking to prove they can handle serious opposition.
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