February 14: Heavyweight Contender Jared Anderson Added to Denys Berinchyk-Keyshawn Davis Undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Jan 2025
Second-generation Puerto Rican star Juanmita Lopez De Jesus to make pro debut
NEW YORK CITY (Jan. 9, 2025) — Heavyweight contender Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is ready for a fresh start in 2025. The once-beaten puncher from Toledo, Ohio, returns in a 10-rounder against Marios Kollias on Friday, Feb. 14, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Anderson-Kollias joins a stacked ESPN+-streamed undercard headlined by the WBO lightweight world title showdown between reigning champion Denys Berinchyk and unbeaten American standout Keyshawn Davis.
The undercard will also feature the pro debut of second-generation Puerto Rican star Juanmita Lopez De Jesus, who will take on Bryan Santiago (1-1-1) in a four-round junior bantamweight tilt. Rising welterweight prospect Keon Davis will see action in a four-rounder against an opponent to be named.
Berinchyk-Keyshawn, Xander Zayas-Slawa Spomer, and Vito Mielnicki Jr.-Connor Coyle will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The undercard will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with K2 Promotions and Queensberry Promotions, tickets are ON SALE NOW via Ticketmaster.com.
“I still believe Jared Anderson is one of the most formidable heavyweights in the world, and I expect him to return with a vengeance this year,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Juanmita has the family and amateur pedigree to become a world champion and one of the faces of Puerto Rican boxing. Keon Davis is a tremendously talented young fighter. What a night of fights we have in store for fans at the MSG Theater.”
Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs), a one-time Team USA amateur prodigy, turned pro in October 2019 and registered seven knockout wins in less than 13 months. He graduated from prospect to contender with one-sided victories over Jerry Forrest, George Arias, and former world champion Charles Martin. Anderson opened his 2024 campaign in a Top Rank on ESPN main event, notching a 10-round unanimous decision over Ryad Merhy. He stepped up to face division boogeyman Martin Bakole last August in Los Angeles, suffering three knockdowns before being stopped in the fifth. Kollias (12-3-1, 10 KOs) has not been stopped since his pro debut in 2014 and is one fight removed from a majority decision defeat to Danish upstart Kem Ljungquist.
Juanmita, the son of former two-weight world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, returns to a building with family significance. Juanma won two world championship fights at The Theater, defending his WBO junior featherweight crown over Rogers Mtagwa in 2009 and winning the WBO featherweight title over Steven Luevano the following year. Juanmita, a 19-year-old from Caguas, represented Puerto Rico at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Keon Davis (1-0), Keyshawn’s youngest brother, made his professional debut last November at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. He shut out Jalen Moore over four rounds on a card headlined by Keyshawn’s second-round stoppage of Gustavo Lemos.
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