Bob Arum has shed light on Jared Anderson’s loss to Martin Bakole, a fight Top Rank was not on board with. The heavyweight bout, which took place on August 3, left many fans and experts shocked, but according to Arum, it wasn’t a fight they wanted for Anderson in the first place.
Arum explained in a recent interview with Dan Rafael that Anderson was approached directly by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh with an offer too lucrative to pass up. Anderson, who had never faced a puncher like Bakole, took the fight despite Top Rank’s reservations.
“We were against that fight,” Arum said. “His Excellency went straight to the fighter with a huge offer, and Jared couldn’t say no. Bakole is a tremendous puncher, and it wasn’t surprising he got knocked out.”
Watch Anderson vs. Bakole highlights: Watch
Anderson had been preparing for opponents with a different style, and the result was a devastating KO loss. Arum emphasized that Top Rank’s matchmakers weren’t behind the decision and that the fight, though financially lucrative, was not the right move for Anderson.
While Anderson’s future is uncertain, the young heavyweight recently became a father, and Arum is hopeful that he’ll regroup and come back stronger.
Do you know a lot about Jared’s career? Check it out here.
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