Jared Anderson has made the first step in rebuilding his career after a devastating loss, but one former world champion questions if he has what it takes after a questionable moment in the corner.
Jared Anderson suffered his first career defeat in 2024 against Martin Bakole. He was dropped three times by Bakole before being stopped on his feet on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov.
Since then, Anderson wasn’t seen in the ring for another six months, returning just last month against 12-3-1 Marios Kollias.
One former world champion commentated Anderson’s return fight, and was left severely unimpressed by something the heavyweight said in his corner.
“All I hear is complaining” – Former world champion questions Jared Anderson’s desire after corner confession
Tim Bradley Jr. retired in 2016 after his second loss to Manny Pacquiao. His record was 33-2-1, with a win over Pacquiao, as well as wins over Juan Manuel Marquez, who drank his urine ahead of his fight with Mayweather, Brandon Rios, and many more.
Commentating the Anderson fight, Bradley questioned the heavyweight after a moment in his corner, where Anderson responded to his coach imploring him to aim for the body more with the following:
“I hate hitting elbows.”
This complaining didn’t sit well with Bradley, who said:
“Too much complaining for me, man. All I hear is complaining. Listen to your corner, man. […] Do you wanna be a fighter? Do you wanna be a champion?”
Bradley and his co-commentator praised the instructions Anderson was being given, but felt his response to them was not that of a future world champion.
Anderson did win the fight in a labored points victory.
Jared Anderson cries to Roy Jones Jr. after pressure of fame gets to him
Ahead of Anderson’s bout with former world champion and Anthony Joshua opponent, Charles Martin, the heavyweight had a viral heart-to-heart moment with his coach, Roy Jones Jr., asking him how he dealt with the pressures of fame.
Anderson said: “I know I’m good at this and I know I can have fun at this but this might not just be what completely makes me happy.”
Jones Jr., who once knocked out an NYPD officer, told Anderson he couldn’t give up, that he couldn’t let down his mother and everyone back home, that he couldn’t let down God.
Anderson, overwhelmed, says through tears: “But I’m 23.”
Jones Jr., who once offered a fan $100K if he could beat him, responded: “Sometimes there’s a lot put on us, because we’re the ones that can take it. Jared may not think he can sometimes […] but Jared can wear these shoes.”
Anderson responded: “But Jared didn’t ask for it.”
To which the pound-for-pound legend of the sport responded: “You gotta ride the horse, son.”
Anderson beat Martin in a unanimous decision.