Fight Recap: Jared Anderson Wins, Cures Insomnia With Snoozer

Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson of Toledo, Ohio (17-0, 15 KOs) won a snoozefest by unanimous decision over Ryad Merhy of Brussels, Belgium (32-3, 26 KOs). Save for a single mercy round, it would have been a complete shutout on the scorecards: 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91.

The sooner this recap is over, the better for you.

Forget the quality photos in this article by the reliable Mikey Williams of Top Rank Boxing. The fight wasn’t anywhere near this exciting. It resembled the awful fight between Shakur Stevenson and Edwin De Los Santos in November, which set a record for the fewest punches thrown in a 12-round fight in CompuBox's 38-year history.

Jared Anderson did what he could to engage with Ryad Merhy, but there wasn't much to work with. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

This fight came close to another record. Merhy's 144 punches thrown were the third-fewest in a 10-round fight in CompuBox history.

Merhy Lacking Against Jared Anderson

Top Rank should withhold Ryad Merhy's purse for non-performance. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Merhy said he would be patient early on, and he wasn’t kidding. Patience turned into passivity. Anderson tried to close in on his smaller opponent, satisfied in the early going to land hard power shots and brief combinations. Trainer Darrie Riley told Anderson after the third round to keep doing what he was doing.

Following a wildly entertaining co-main event, the Corpus Christi crowd was audibly restless with boos and catcalls over the lack of action. Merhy’s trainer said he wanted his fighter to let his back hand go, but the risk of getting caught by an Anderson power punch kept him paralyzed.

If you and I don’t do our jobs, we don’t get paid. Merhy came for a payday he didn’t earn. Send him back to Belgium, and let’s hope we never see him again.

Anderson will be ready to return to the ring soon, and there are plans to stage a fight in his hometown of Toledo this summer. “If I’m ranked with you, we can get it cracking. We come for the title, and we come to fucking win,” said Anderson.

Efe Ajagba Bests Guido Vianello

The co-main between Efe Ajagba and Guido Vianello delivered a wildly entertaining, messy fight. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Longtime sparring partners Efe Ajagba of Nigeria (20-1, 14 KOs) and Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello of Rome, Italy (12-2-1, 10 KOs) set their friendship aside for the big stakes facing them in the co-main event. The two heavyweights were both aware a loss would represent a significant setback from the top tier in boxing’s glamour division.

After ten exciting, entertaining rounds, Ajagba pulled out a razor-thin split decision over Vianello. Scores were 96-94 on two cards for the Nigerian and 96-94 on the third for Vianello.

Former sparring partners Efe Ajagba and Guido Vianello didn't hold back on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

The two 2016 Olympians let it rip from the opening bell. Ajagba landed the first hard punches, but Vianello roared back and rocked Ajagba hard in the second round with a hard right hook combination. Would the fight end so quickly?

Ajagba got himself together as Vianello had to take a breather from the early activity. By the middle of the fight, the two settled down, picking their power punches as the audience in Texas held its collective breath. Ajagba got the upper hand, landing hard uppercuts and hooks on the inside. Vianello mustered his remaining energy for a great final round, but Ajagba had done just enough to win.

Efe Ajagba is now a WBC mandatory challenger when the belt becomes available in the future. Guido Vianello's prospects are uncertain. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Compare the CompuBox numbers for this heavyweight fight and the main event. Ajagba landed 186 of 583 punches thrown (32%), against 177 of 622 thrown by Vianello (28%). Ajagba laned 93 power punches and Vianello landed 118 power shots.

Robson Conceição Stops Jose Guardado

Robson Conceição had little trouble with Jose Guardado, stopping him in seven rounds. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Three-time world title challenger Robson Conceição of Brazil (18-2-1, 9 KOs) was on cruise control for most of his junior lightweight fight, outboxing Jose Guardado of Ensenada, Mexico (15-2-1, 5 KOs).

In the seventh round of the scheduled eight, Conceição dropped Guardado with a wicked body shot to the liver in the seventh round. Guardado bravely got to his feet, but it didn’t take much more punishment before the fight was over at 2:27 of the round.

Abdullah Mason Shines Again

Abdullah Mason is at the top of most prospect lists, and rising after another impressive stoppage win. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

On the undercard, lightweight Abdullah Mason of Cleveland (13-0, 11 KOs) continues to impress observers who have their eye on this 20-year-old talent. Mason dispatched Ronal Ron of Venezuela (14-6, 11 KOs) when referee Laurence Cole waived off the fight at 1:02 of round four for a TKO victory.

Mason dropped Ron with a straight left one minute into the fight and dropped him a second time with a left hook to the body near the end of the third round. Ron survived to the bell, but Mason unloaded in the fourth, and Cole stepped in when things got too rough.

“I was trying to take my time a little bit. But at the end I seen him hurt,” said Mason. “I’m here, I’m coming. Once I get to that status, I’m going to be here, so watch out. A lot of people talk about what they are. My work speaks for itself. I’m in the ring.”

It won't be long before Abdullah Mason is ready to challenge the top names in the 135-pound division. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Mason’s hand speed, accuracy, and strategic thinking make him a formidable combatant. His father and trainer, Valiant Mason, describes his son as “fluid.” Mason said he and his father have been working on his patience. “I trust him, he has my best interests at heart,” said Mason.

Not all father/trainer combinations work, but this one is solid so far.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum calls Mason the best prospect he's ever seen. Given the 92-year-old “Bobfather's” track record, it's no idle comment.

Undercard Winners: Villa, Delgado, Rincon

Ruben Villa drilled Cristian Cruz, dominating their eight-round bout. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Featherweight Ruben Villa IV of Salinas, California (22-1, 7 KOs) got a spirited challenge but ultimately had too much skill and power for Cristobal Cruz of Tijuana, Mexico (22-7-1, 11 KOs). Villa gets the unanimous decision by scorecards of 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93.

Villa wins the WBC Silver belt, teeing him up for a mandatory title challenge against Rey Vargas.

Former Golden Glove champions Julian Delgado of Corpus Christi, Texas (1-0) won his pro debut in a four-round middleweight decision over fellow Texan Juan Tamez of Loredo, Texas (1-0). Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37.

John Rincon got a solid victory over Yainiel Alvarez. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Welterweight John Rincon of Corpus Christi, Texas (9-0, 2 KOs) got the victory in front of his hometown fans by majority decision over Yainel Alvarez of Cuba (3-5-2, 1 KO). Scores were 59-55, 58-56, and 57-57.