Jared Anderson vs Kingsley Ibeh (Looking At The Heavyweight Showdown By The Numbers)
Hard-hitting undefeated 21-year old Heavyweight Jared Anderson looks to make a point versus upset-minded Kingsley Ibeh on ESPN+ Saturday at MGM Grand
Undefeated Heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson makes his 2021 debut this Saturday, Feb. 13. The 21-year old Toledo, Ohio native returns to Top Rank’s Bubble inside the MGM Grand Conference Center for his fifth such appearance. He is scheduled to face Kingsley Ibeh on the ESPN+ app as special attraction during the portion of the card headlined by a 10-round Featherweight bout featuring Adam Lopez vs Jason Sanchez.
A couple of important numbers have already been mentioned, but there are a few key others to consider in a match-up expected to be the toughest of Anderson’s early career.
Both fighters stand 6-foot 4-inches. At 80 inches, Kingsley has a 1.5 inch reach advantage.
Anderson’s perfect record of 7-0 consists of all stoppages, with just two opponents extending the fight beyond the first round. Ibeh is 5-1-1 with four knockouts to his credit. The Nigeria-born Phoenix, Ariz. native avenged his lone loss, a four-round split decision to Waldo Cortes Acosta, by stopping Acosta via technical knockout in Round 4 of a bout scheduled for six last June inside The Bubble.
Anderson’s total rounds of action equal 12. Ibeh stands at 23 rounds of experience. The Ohioan’s previous opponents entered the ring at a combined record of 42-21-3. Ibeh, who turned 27 in November, has fought a group with a record of 15-2, collectively.
Luis Eduardo Pena came into his October fight against Anderson at 6-1 with knockouts in all of his wins. The bout ended at 2:46 in Round 1. Ibeh’s best moment in the ring was his six-round majority draw in October against 2016 Olympian Guido Vianello. Vianello was 7-0 with seven knockouts prior to the bout. Ibeh rocked Vianello in the early rounds, and landed a blow that opened up a severe cut over the Italian’s left eye.
Ibeh’s effort against Vianello isn’t a secret, so Anderson will be ready for what should be a highly motivated opponent looking to derail the hot rise of the former Team USA Boxing standout. Before the near career-changing upset Ibeh – a former collegiate football player – handed Patrick Mailata the first loss of his career in a July bout in The Bubble.
The two will have six rounds to determine who is the better man.
Lopez-Sanchez and Anderson-Ibeh will stream live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, preceding the ESPN telecast (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) featuring Smith-Vlasov and Richard Commey-Jackson Marinez.
All photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
