Jared Anderson / Keyshawn Davis Fill Out Top Rank April 8th Card

Monday afternoon saw Top Rank Boxing make official the undercard for it’s ESPN televised show on April 8th from Newark, NJ. This, as two of their prominent, rising fighters in heavyweight Jared Anderson and lightweight Keyshawn Davis will compete on the slate that features Shakur Stevenson battling Japan’s Shunichrio Yoshino in the main event.

Challenge accepted ☑️@TeamBigBabyy & @KeyshawnDavis8’s foes are set.#ShakurYoshino | APR 8 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/4bblXIolZV

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 27, 2023

From the Top Rank Release:

“Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson has climbed the heavyweight rankings with his devastating knockout power. The 6’4, 240-pound wrecking ball will face fellow unbeaten George Arias in a 10-rounder Saturday, April 8, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Anderson-Arias will be the co-feature to the WBC lightweight title eliminator between Shakur Stevenson and Shuichiro Yoshino.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis will face his stiffest challenge in the 10-round lightweight televised opener against former world title challenger Anthony Yigit.

Stevenson-Yoshino, Anderson-Arias, and Davis-Yigit will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Anderson (13-0, 13 KOs), a 23-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, has notched five consecutive second-round stoppages, including a demolition of the normally durable Jerry Forrest last December. Anderson received international headlines for his work as Tyson Fury’s chief sparring partner, but he’s now forging his own path as boxing’s most decorated young heavyweight.

Anderson said, “This is the kind of fight I’ve been waiting for, a big fight between two undefeated heavyweights. I’m excited to once again be fighting on the same card as Shakur Stevenson. Don’t miss this fight. April 8 is going to a special night in Newark.”

Arias (18-0, 7 KOs), a Dominican boxer-puncher, began his pro career in 2014 and has toppled seven unbeaten fighters in his ascension to contender status. Arias continued that trend in his previous two fights, defeating Cassius Chaney and Alante Green by split decision. The New York City resident will give up five inches and roughly 20 pounds to Anderson.

Arias said, “I’m excited for the opportunity to go to war with Jared Anderson, one of the most highly regarded heavyweights right now. I thank my team for helping me get to this position. I can’t wait to show my skills on such a big platform. On April 8, I will pull off the upset.”

Davis (7-0, 5 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, went 3-0 in the pro ranks before capturing a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In November 2021, he signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank and has scored four wins since, including a violent knockout over Omar Tienda at Prudential Center last year. In his most recent outing, the 23-year-old standout dominated former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos.

Davis said, “The Newark fans showed me so much love last time, and I can’t wait to give them another special performance. I’m going to make Yigit regret taking this fight. He’s been in the ring with some good fighters, but I’m on another level.”

The bouts will lead to Stevenson’s second straight bout at the Prudential Center in Newark. He headlined for Top Rank in September’s when he defeated Robson Conceição. Stevenson, who had been stripped of his WBC/WBO 130 lb. titles a day earlier for not making weight, did well at the box office with over 10,000  fans in attendance. It was the former Olympic Silver Medalist Stevenson’s first fight at the Newark venue since July 2019.