BoxRec

Sources: Jared Anderson to fight Andriy Rudenko on Aug. 26

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson will return on Aug. 26 vs. Andriy Rudenko, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

The ESPN main event will be Anderson's second fight in less than 60 days. Earlier that day, Oleksandr Uysk's unified heavyweight title defense vs. Daniel Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland, will be streamed on ESPN+, sources said.

Anderson, ESPN's No. 8 heavyweight, scored the biggest win of his career earlier this month with a unanimous decision over former titleholder Charles Martin. The win -- against his best opponent to date -- was also the toughest outing of Anderson's career.

Anderson, 23, was stunned on multiple occasions and lost a single round for the first time in his career. Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) gained valuable experience in the process, however, and he was extended the distance for the first time in his career.

Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs) is a step back from Martin; the 39-year-old Ukrainian has won four of his past eight bouts. He proved to be durable, though, lasting the distance in defeats to Alexander Povetkin, Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel during that stretch with a sixth-round TKO loss to Vladyslav Sirenko in 2021.

More important than his opposition, Anderson is staying active as he continues to develop into what he and Top Rank hopes is the next great American heavyweight.

Fighting out of Houston, the 6-foot-4, 240-plus pound Anderson was coming off TKO wins over Jerry Forrest and George Arias inside three rounds.

Fair play for staying active.

Haven’t seen much of Rudenko recently as I think he’s been very inactive but I’d imagine Charles Martin would UD him.

jameswilson wrote: ↑12 Jul 2023, 05:45 Fair play for staying active.

Haven’t seen much of Rudenko recently as I think he’s been very inactive but I’d imagine Charles Martin would UD him.

Yeah - makes a nice change having someone announce their next fight straight after the biggest one so far of their career.

Rudenko went the distance with Zhang in 2019 but got stopped in 2021 for the first time. I haven't seen the fight but I remember Rudenko as a durable fellow who was keen to go the distance. He seemed to accept the moral victory of going the distance. I reckon they are keen to wipe the memory of the Martin fight from peoples heads. Without seeing the most recent Rudenko fight it's hard to have an opinion. He is 39 years old and since that stoppage occurred in the 6th, there should be a little bit of pressure on Anderson to do a similar job, if not quicker.

Jared Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) will take on Ukrainian contender Andriy Rudenko in the 10-round main event on Saturday, August 26 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. The 23-year-old slugger will make his third 2023 appearance less than two months after defeating former world champion Charles Martin in front of 7,234 hometown fans in Toledo.

Anderson-Rudenko and additional fight action will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

“This is another great test for Jared. When you watch him fight, you are seeing a future heavyweight champion of the world,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Rudenko is a crafty veteran who has been in there with some top guys. The fans at Hard Rock Tulsa are in for a real treat.”

Anderson debuted as a pro in 2019 and has developed into a top contender. He ended his first 14 fights in six rounds or less. His knockout victims included Jerry Forrest and previously unbeaten standouts George Arias and Vladimir Tereshkin. On July 1, he fought for the first time as a pro in his hometown, debuting as a headlining attraction with a 10-round unanimous decision win over Martin. Ranked 7th in the world by the WBO and 9th by the WBC, Anderson is on track to challenge the division’s top dogs.

Anderson said, “I want to stay active and make my case that I am the present and future of the heavyweight division. Rudenko is a tough, durable veteran. I respect what he’s accomplished in the game, but on August 26 at Hard Rock Tulsa, he’s going to regret accepting this challenge.”

Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs) is a 39-year-old with more than 16 years of pro experience. He was 24-0 before losses to then-undefeated contenders Lucas Browne and Hughie Fury. Rudenko then tallied seven consecutive wins, earning his first regional title in the process. In recent years, he has provided stern tests to some of the sport’s top big men, losing via decision to former world champion Alexander Povetkin, reigning European champion Agit Kabayel, and top contender Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang.

Rudenko said, “This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am coming to Tulsa to score the big upset. I dedicate this fight to the people of Ukraine, and I can’t wait to show everyone that I still have what it takes to perform at the highest level.”

Efe Ajagba-Zhan Kossobutskiy Set As ESPN Co-Feature August 26 On Anderson-Rudenko Card

Zhan Kossobutskiy will have a meaningful, televised heavyweight fight in the United States this summer after all.

Boxing Scene has learned that the undefeated contender from Kazakhstan will square off against Nigerian power puncher Efe Ajagba on August 26 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ESPN will televise the 10-round bout between Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) and Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) as the co-feature before Jared Anderson faces Ukraine’s Andrii Rudenko in the 10-round main event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

Kossobutskiy, 34, was scheduled to square off against Anderson on July 1 at Huntington Center in Anderson’s hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Former IBF champion Charles Martin replaced Kossobutskiy on 11 days’ notice because Kossobutskiy had difficulty securing a visa in time that would’ve permitted him to travel to the United States.

Kossobutskiy’s visa issue has since been resolved, which allowed the promoter for Anderson and Ajagba, Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., to schedule their fight for five weeks from Saturday night.

The 6-foot-3, 239-pound southpaw still hopes to face Anderson, but Kossobutskiy will have to go through Ajagba to at least remain in position to eventually have that fight rescheduled.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Ajagba has won each of his two fights since Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (22-0, 15 KOs) out-boxed him on his way to winning a 10-round unanimous decision in October 2021 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ajagba, 29, beat St. Louis’ Stephan Shaw (18-1, 13 KOs) unanimously on points in his last fight, a 10-rounder ESPN aired as a main event January 14 from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Anderson, meanwhile, will return to the ring for another main event just eight weeks after Martin gave Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) the toughest fight of his pro career.

The 37-year-old Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) became the first opponent to take the 23-year-old knockout artist the distance. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound southpaw seemed to buzz Anderson during the fifth round and again late in the 10th round, but Anderson dropped Martin toward the end of the third round, was otherwise in control and won by big margins on all three scorecards (99-90, 99-90, 99-91).

Anderson is heavily favored to beat the 39-year-old Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs).

Bakhodir Jalolov will also be on the card

Decent card for sure. Hopefully winners to face in November.

Maybe Efe's last chance at being something other than a neverwas.

Press Release | Undercard Information

Heavy-hitting Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba will take on unbeaten Kazakh southpaw Zhan Kossobutskiy in the 10-round co-feature on Saturday, August 26 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. Ajagba-Kossobutskiy will be the co-feature to the heavyweight showdown between Toledo-born phenom Jared Anderson and Andriy Rudenko.

Uzbek Olympic gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov will make his Top Rank debut in the eight-round televised opener against Nigeria’s Onoriode Ehwarieme.

Anderson-Rudenko, Ajagba-Kossobutskiy & Jalolov-Ehwarieme will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs), a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, has solidified himself as one of the division’s fiercest punchers. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound slugger debuted as a pro in July 2017 and secured six first-round knockouts in his first eight bouts. He suffered his first defeat in October 2021 against Frank Sanchez. Following the loss, Ajagba had surgery on both his elbows, returning in August 2022 to stop Hungarian veteran Jozsef Darmos in the second round. The 29-year-old is coming off a 10-round decision win against previously unbeaten contender Stephan Shaw in January.

“This is a great test for me as I continue my quest to become Nigeria’s next heavyweight champion," Ajagba said. “I am coming to Tulsa to score a devastating knockout and remind everyone what I’m capable of doing inside the ring.”

Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) is a 34-year-old southpaw from Kostanay, Kazakhstan. He has only gone the distance once in his career, a six-round decision win over Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko in September 2018. In 2021, he went 3-0 with three knockouts. In 2022, he dispatched former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas in the fifth round and is coming off a third-round knockout over previously unbeaten contender Hussein Muhamed last November.

Kossobutskiy said, “I’m ready to make my debut in the United States against a very strong opponent. I want to show that I can beat the best in the heavyweight division, and to do that, you must overcome very tough challenges. I look forward to showing the world my abilities on August 26.”

Jalolov (12-0, 12 KOs) represented Uzbekistan at the 2016 Olympics before turning pro in May 2018 with a third-round TKO over Hugo Trujillo. He built an 8-0 record before returning to the amateur ranks in the summer of 2021 to capture an Olympic gold medal. Jalolov then tallied four knockout wins in the paid ranks before continuing his remarkable amateur run in May with a gold medal at the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 29-year-old wrecking ball returns to the pro ranks following his fourth-round TKO over Curtis Harper last November.

Ehwarieme (20-2, 19 KOs) debuted as a professional with a decision win over Junior Maletino Iakopo in December 2010. He defeated his next 16 opponents by knockout, all within five rounds. He suffered his first loss against Rodney Hernandez in June 2019, but returned in December to stop Ariel Esteban Bracamonte via first-round knockout. Ehwarieme suffered a fourth-round stoppage loss against Kossobutskiy in February 2021, and he is 2-0 with two knockouts since. The 35-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics, blasted out Jeff Holcomb in only one round in February 2022.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes some of the sports brightest up-and-coming talents.

Rising featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (8-0, 5 KOs), the latest fistic talent to come from Brownsville, Brooklyn, will fight an opponent to be named in an eight-rounder. Carrington will make his fourth 2023 appearance following an eighth-round TKO win over Luis Porozo in June.

Undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0-1, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, will face Sona Akale (7-1, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder. Ali Walsh will fight in Tulsa for the third time as a pro following an eight-round draw against Danny Rosenberger on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard.

19-year-old lightweight prodigy Abdullah Mason (9-0, 8 KOs) will make his fourth appearance of 2023 in a six-round duel. Mason was considered one of the brightest U.S. amateur talents before signing with Top Rank in October 2021. The southpaw returns after a second-round TKO win over Alex de Oliveira on July 1.

In a 10-round junior lightweight tilt, Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez (15-0, 9 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line against hard-hitting Dominican Yohan Vasquez (25-3, 20 KOs). Suarez heads to Tulsa following a 12th-round TKO win against then-unbeaten Australian Paul Fleming on enemy turf.

Kazakh Olympian Ablaikhan Zhussupov (3-0, 2 KOs) returns in a welterweight clash scheduled for eight rounds.

Fight Week!!

Great card !

hopefully jalolov will commit himself to pro boxing now, if he f@cks off for every olympics and world championship he never will

Big heavyweight bill

Will hopefully catch up with it all on YouTube.

Anderson should stop rudenko but it won't be easy he is super durable...but past his best.

Hopefully, Anderson has worked on NOT pulling straight back.

Interesting to see what Ajagba has. He'll be pushed to the max and good chance he loses this one. Still can't get a good feel for Zahn. Maybe the most compelling matchup of the night.

Jalalov has me losing interest. Good to see him back in pro action though.

Decent match up. Anderson taller and with a sizeable reach advantage, will likely work away from the outside until he has taken the sting out of Rudenko.

Decent undercard too.

Good heavyweight card this isn’t it. Not looked at all the matches, but yes Ajagba Zahn looks a good un. I like the big Nigerian, he showed some heart getting up against Sanchez. And interesting to see his opponent has already beaten three undefeated fighters, unusual for an up-and-coming heavy, never see that over here for instance.

Jared Anderson: "Everything That Happened [Last Fight], I Was Confident Of Handling"

“Everything that happened, I was confident of handling,” Anderson told BS.com. “I just didn’t know what fight it was going to come out in. Nothing in that fight happened that I wasn’t already confident in what I could do.

“For it to have been on ESPN where everybody else could see it, how they took it was actually a downer. It didn’t do nothing but feed my ego.”

“Now I know that everyone’s doubting me,” noted Anderson. “So when I do go into that next fight where they think that it’s gonna be a problem or issue, I’m gonna tell everybody ‘Make sure you go bet your biggest bag, and then make sure to share it with me when I win because I told y’all.’

“I feel like just kind of fed into my ego and they’re gonna hype up a different side of me.”

anderson vs ajagba could have been vaguely interesting .

Fight Night!!

Anderson wins for sure, as Rudenko was never really an "A" leaguer and is getting on in age. But this could still be interesting. Rudenko's fought well against the division's best, has a solid pro record, and is durable.

This fight should tell us more about how good Anderson is or isn't. Let's see what happens.

Date: Saturday August 26, 2023
Location: Hard Rock Hotel And Casino Tulsa - Catoosa, OK
TV/Stream: ESPN

Start Times
Youtube: 6:15 pm ET | 3:15 pm PT | 11:15 pm BST
ESPN+: 6:50 pm ET | 3:50 pm PT | 11:50 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
ESPN: 10:30 pm ET | 7:30 pm PT
Sky Sports: 2:30 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Top Rank Inc.

Main Card

10 Round Heavyweight Bout
Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko

10 Round Heavyweight Bout
Efe Ajagba vs. Zhan Kossobutskiy

Undercard

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Bruce Carrington vs. Angel Antonio Contreras

6 Round Middleweight Bout
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Sona Akale

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Abdullah Mason vs. Cesar Villarraga

10 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Charly Suarez vs. Yohan Vasquez

8 Round Welterweight Bout
Ablaikhan Zhussupov vs. Wiston Campos

8 Round Heavyweight Bout
Jeremiah Milton vs. Craig Lewis

Youtube Prelims

8 Round Heavyweight Bout
Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Onoriode Ehwarieme

Anderson stops punchbag Rudenko in the 5th, one sided beatdown really, Rudenko just tucked up and never offered much, Anderson showed a good strong jab, landed the right hand but it was his body punching what impressed and broke Rudenko down, he really targeted the body and it slowly took the resistance out of him, Rudenko lost a point at start of the 5th for punching back of head, Anderson backed him on the ropes and hit him with about 20 unanswered punches, Rudenko wasn't throwing back and it no surprise when the ref stepped in, Rudenko was done

ya obviously a limited opponent, but anderson was smart to focus on the body, and it's very rare these days you see that type of committment to body work. obviously he had a bit of a scare with prince charles, but he's still got a lot of tools to work with

kossobutsky - efe was a joke of a fight, disgraceful from kosso to foul himself out so quickly

the 2nd round was one of the strangest rounds ive seen in a while

jalolov wins by 3 kd stoppage about 2 minutes in vs a 6'7 nigerian punching bag (not efe!)

wish he would fully commit to the pros, he's got a lot of ability but im worried we'll never see him focused on the pro game during his prime, or at most will only have a very short window for it