Jared Anderson Makes Quick Turnaround Against Andriy Rudenko

Jared Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) returns to take on Andriy Rudenko (35-6, 21 KOs, 1 NC) on August 26. The bout will headline a card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes will all air the main event live. The event itself will follow the ESPN+ telecast of Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois.

Having last fought in another main event against Charles Martin on July 1, Anderson is making a relatively quick turnaround. After going the distance for the first time in his career, many expected him to have a longer layoff. However, that is not what Anderson and his team had in mind as he now faces a boxing veteran.

“I want to stay active and make my case that I am the present and future of the heavyweight division,” said Anderson. “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 made his professional boxing debut in October of 2006. He has fought a number of heavyweight contenders over the years, including Alexander Povetkin, Zhilei Zhang, and Hughie Fury. Against Anderson, he will look to make the most of the opportunity to headline in the USA. The Ukrainian has fought in seven countries till date and now makes his American debut.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am coming to Tulsa to score the big upset,” said Rudenko. “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.”

Anderson-Rudenko undercard

In addition to the Anderson-Rudenko main event, two other bouts will feature on ESPN. Many more fights will also feature on ESPN+. Here is more from the Top Rank Boxing press release:

Heavy-hitting Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs) will take on unbeaten Kazakh southpaw Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) 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 (12-0, 12 KOs) will make his Top Rank debut in the eight-round televised opener against Nigeria’s Onoriode Ehwarieme (20-2, 19 KOs).

ESPN+ portion

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.

(Update: Carrington will face Angel Contreras (13-6-2, 7 KOs) on the undercard.)

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.

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for updates on Anderson-Rudenko as we enter fight week in Tulsa, Oklahoma.