Jared Anderson Ready To Tangle With Vet Forrest At MSG

Coming up on Saturday night’s Top Rank Boxing card from Madison Square Garden, unbeaten heavyweight Jared “Real Big Baby” Anderson returns in the co-feature against veteran Jerry Forrest. And, the likable, hulking power puncher is ready to take another step towards title contention.

Anderson and Forrest met with media Thursday for the final time prior to squaring off in a 10 round non-title bout,

Big baby looking like a star 🤩

⁦@TeamBigBabyy⁩ x #LopezMartin pic.twitter.com/hyezjkV9DQ

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 8, 2022

After having time off for hand surgery Anderson made his 2022 debut in August and demolished Miljan Rovcanin in just two rounds to improve to 12-0, 12 KOs. And, now the Ohio native knows that he’s stepping up in competition and back on a bigger stage of NYC Saturday.

“We always come prepared to go the distance in every fight. We did what we needed to do (preparing for Saturday). We did a great job, and we came in shape. Without a doubt, this is my toughest opponent to date. His record speaks for itself. He’s been in there with some of the best and has gone the distance with some of the best. We come ready to go the distance. We’re 12-round fight ready. We train for it, both in and out of the ring and every day.”

Hear a breakdown of this fight and the entire Top Rank card on our “Big Fight Weekend Preview” podcast with Dan Rafael joining me. Just click below,

As for Forrest, the Louisianan is 26-5-2 and has been in with the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Michael Hunter and Kubrat Pulev (two draws and a loss) and knows that Anderson is younger and may be a harder puncher than all of those veterans.

Forrest is saying the right things

“He’s a good fighter, and his camp is smart. I don’t think anyone ever overlooks me. If you’ve seen me fight before, there is no way that you’re going to overlook me,” Forrest said Thursday.

In the fight against {Kubrat} Pulev, I learned a lot about myself. That was my first fight with an injury. So, I learned how to deal with an injury inside the ring and make it work for you. I had to make sure that I went back to camp fully healed first. But, now I’m back. If you’ve seen me work before, then you know what I do.”

We’ve also seen Anderson “work before” and Forrest better be readay, and quick, to get his chin tested.