Paulie Malignaggi believes the hype behind America’s next heavyweight hope has faced a sever reality check.
With Deontay Wilder seemingly on the verge of retirement, or with only maximum a few fights left should he continue on, the US needs a player in the heavyweight division to compete with the talent from other parts of the world.
The UK has the likes of rising star Moses Itauma and recent champion Daniel Dubois, New Zealand’s Jospeh Parker is having an impressive resurgence, China’s Zhilei Zhang is still one of the hardest hitters out there and Martin Bakole has recently put Congo, and to an extent Scotland, on the heavyweight map.
Bakole did so with a conclusive and concussive win over Jared Anderson, previously undefeated and backed by many to be ‘the future of the division.’
Anderson was dropped in the first round by the 31-year-old, showing great heart to rise and fight on until the fifth when he was forced to the canvas twice more and stopped by the referee.
Malignaggi, via Boxing Scene, said he wasn’t shocked.
“[Anderson] looked like he’d stopped improving back when he beat Charles Martin – which can happen to a prospect whether they’re lacking in focus, or simply short of the ability they need to keep stepping up.
Beyond some heart, Anderson showed very little. He didn’t look anything like the level Bakole’s on, and because of the way his progress had already stalled, I’m not convinced it was a case of it simply being too early for him. There can no longer be any doubt that he wasn’t sufficiently motivated against more recent, less risky opponents; against the fighter who posed a threat, he looked out of his depth.
He lacked subtlety; he couldn’t adjust to what Bakole offered. So much so that Bakole made it look very, very easy. I can’t honestly say I was shocked – I’d already started to question whether America’s desperation to have another leading heavyweight meant there was misplaced faith in him reaching the top.”
Anderson, at just 24, has an excellent opportunity to bounce back. Does Malignaggi think that will extend as far as a world title win? No.
“Fighters can, of course, recover from defeats, but I don’t see him as a future champion. If he can recover a sense of focus he can still earn some big purses, but I’m not sure there’s too much more in his future.”
Bakole moves on to bigger and better fights while Anderson plots his comeback.
