Jared Anderson secured a win against Ukraine’s Andriy Rudenko (35-7, 21 KOs) with a fifth-round technical knockout. The action unfolded at Tulsa’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino this Saturday night.
Anderson, now boasting a record of 16-0 with 15 KOs, seized the momentum right from the first bell. He unleashed a series of crisp jabs and body combos that left Rudenko scrambling for answers. Frustrated, Rudenko resorted to clinching Anderson by the nape of his neck to slow down his assault.
Round three saw Anderson double down on his body attacks. Rudenko managed to hang on, partially due to his consistent use of headlocks. By the fifth round, the referee deducted a point from Rudenko. A subsequent blitz from Anderson forced referee Gary Ritter to call it quits at 1:40 of the round.
Anderson reflected, “I’m just soaking it all in—loving the journey and the bouts. I’m fighting on my own terms, for my family, and for me. Ignore the haters; I keep it 100. This isn’t just sport; it’s business. I’m just clocking in and doing my thing. You do you, and I’ll do me until the very end.”
On the undercard, Ajagba Triumphs via Disqualification Against Kossobutskiy
Efe Ajagba of Nigeria (18-1, 13 KOs) aimed to exploit his natural advantages of reach and height against Kazakh-born Zhan Kossobutskiy (19-1, 18 KOs). However, multiple low shots from Kossobutskiy led referee Chris Flores to disqualify him in the fourth.
Coming off a pair of wins post his 2021 defeat, Ajagba utilized a strong, rhythmic jab. Kossobutskiy tried to close the gap with a high-guard and sporadic arm punches.
During round two, Ajagba got in a low shot of his own before stunning Kossobutskiy with a chin-checker. Yet, Kossobutskiy retaliated with a series of below-the-belt hits in the third, losing two points for his infractions.
The last straw came in the fourth round—a further low shot from Kossobutskiy forced the ref to put an end to the bout.
Other fights:
Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (9-0, 5 KOs) put on a clinic against Angel Antonio Contreras (13–7-2, 7 KOs), using a smart game plan to catch and shoot while controlling the pace. He was a wizard with the jab, and the judges took notice.
Tulsa’s Pride: Heavyweight Jeremiah Milton (11-0, 7 KOs) got close to a stoppage but ended up securing a UD against Craig Lewis (15-7-2, 8 KOs). The fight was a boxing lesson from start to finish.
Middleweight Upset: Sona Akale (8-1, 4 KOs) turned the tables on Nico Ali Walsh (8-1, 5 KOs), securing an unexpected majority decision after a competitive six-rounder.
Lightweight Prodigy: Abdullah Mason (10-0, 9 KOs) had his skills put to the test but managed to emerge victorious over Cesar Villarraga (10-8-1, 5 KOs) in a unanimous decision.
Welterweight Action: Ablaikhan Zhussupov (4-0, 3 KOs) sent Wiston Campos (33-12-6, 19 KOs) to the canvas, and eventually, his corner threw in the towel. TKO win in the bag for Zhussupov.
Junior Lightweight: Charly Suarez (16-0, 9 KOs) kept his record intact against Yohan Vasquez (25-4, 20 KOs), showing his mettle over ten rounds. The scorecards told the tale.
Heavyweight Debut: Bakhodir Jalolov (13-0, 13 KOs) made an explosive Top Rank debut, extinguishing Onoriode Ehwarieme (20-3, 19 KOs) in the first round itself.