An exciting heavyweight bout is on the horizon as Jared “Big Baby” Anderson is slated to fight Ryad Merhy on April 13 in Corpus Christi, Texas. This matchup is generating buzz as Anderson, ranked No. 8 by ESPN among heavyweights, continues his ascent in the professional ranks. The 24-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, has garnered attention as one of America's most promising heavyweight champions in waiting.
Anderson comes into this fight with an impressive record. His most recent bout saw him secure a fifth-round TKO against Andriy Rudenko in August. Anderson's 2023 campaign was notable, including a TKO win over George Arias in March and a decision victory over former heavyweight titleholder Charles Martin in July—the first time an Anderson fight has gone the distance.
Ryad Merhy, the 32-year-old challenger from the Ivory Coast now fighting out of Brussels, brings a compelling narrative to this fight. Merhy upset Tony Yoka in December in Paris with a split-decision win, marking Yoka's third consecutive defeat. This victory over Yoka has propelled Merhy into the spotlight and earned him this significant bout against Anderson, marking his debut in North America.
Merhy’s journey has been marked by resilience, bouncing back from a unanimous-decision loss to Kevin Lerena at bridgerweight to secure the win against Yoka. His professional career has seen highs and lows, including a defeat in his only attempt at a full-fledged title against Arsen Goulamirian for the WBA cruiserweight belt in 2018.
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