The heavyweight division’s next king is taking his show on the road. Jared Anderson, who knocked out five opponents inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble, returns to action Saturday, April 10 against Jeremiah Karpency in a bout scheduled for 8 or 6 rounds from Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Anderson vs Karpency is among Smith vs Vlasov undercard contests streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+, preceding the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title main event, featuring Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov, and the 10-round heavyweight co-feature between Efe Ajagba and Brian Howard live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and live stream on ESPN+.
The main card start time is scheduled for 10 pm / 7 pm PT, following the undercard kicking off at 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tony Holden Productions, limited tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting StubWire.com.
“Jared Anderson is a superstar in the making,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He is the world’s most exciting young heavyweight, and I can’t wait to see what he shows next. When you watch Jared, you are watching a future world champion.”
Anderson (8-0, 8 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, turned pro with Top Rank following a stellar amateur career that included U.S. National Championship victories in 2017 and 2018. He has been spotless as a professional, notching five first-round knockouts and serving as Tyson Fury’s primary sparring partner before the Deontay Wilder rematch. He last fought Feb. 13 and created a viral moment with a left hook that knocked out Kingsley Ibeh in the sixth round. Karpency (16-2-1, 6 KOs), from Adah, Pennsylvania, is an 11-year pro whose only defeats have come against previously undefeated foes: Oscar Rivas (third-round TKO) and Sergey Kuzmin (sixth-round KO).
Anderson said, “I began 2021 on a high note against Ibeh, and I’m looking forward to carrying over my momentum against Karpency. The fans love big knockouts, and my goal is to deliver that every time I fight.”
In other Smith vs Vlasov undercard action
Robson Conceicao (15-0, 7 KOs) vs. Jesus Antonio Ahumada (17-3, 11 KOs)
8 Rounds, Junior Lightweight
2016 Olympic gold medalist Conceicao, from Bahia, Brazil, cemented his status as a contender with last October’s gut check against Louie Coria. Conceicao recovered from a knockdown and a pair of point deductions to squeak out a unanimous decision victory and preserve his unbeaten record. Ahumada, from Hermosillo, Mexico, is 3-1 since a 2018 TKO loss to Stephen Fulton, who went on to win a junior featherweight world title.
Albert Bell (17-0, 5 KOs) vs. Manuel Rey Rojas (20-4, 6 KOs)
8 Rounds, Junior Lightweight
The six-foot Bell, from Toledo, Ohio, makes his 2021 debut following last July’s 10-round shutout over Filipino veteran Mark Bernaldez. Bell, who is ranked in the top 15 by the WBO, holds a 2019 victory over longtime contender Andy Vences and is closing in on a potential world title opportunity. Rojas, from Dallas, Texas, is 8-1 in his last nine bouts, with his only defeat coming by 10-round decision in January 2020 to Puerto Rican star Felix Verdejo. He fought last September in Mexico and scored a second-round stoppage.
Sonny Conto (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Waldo Cortes (6-3, 3 KOs)
4 Rounds, Heavyweight
Conto returns for his first fight in 15 months against the man he was supposed to fight Feb. 20 inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. A medical issue forced Cortes out of the fight, but he is now recovered and ready to face the South Philadelphia native who has two consecutive first-round stoppages.
Troy Isley (1-0) vs. LaQuan Evans (4-1, 2 KOs)
4 Rounds, Middleweight
Decorated former U.S. amateur star Isley, from Alexandria, Virginia, turned pro Feb. 13 and shut out Bryant Costello over four rounds. Isley will step up in pro bout number two against Evans, a two-year pro who has won three straight bouts since a majority decision defeat.
Duke Ragan (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Charles Clark (3-6-1, 1 KO)
6 Rounds, Featherweight
Ragan, from Cincinnati, Ohio, signed a professional contract with Top Rank last year following an amateur run that included a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships. As a professional, he’s been perfect, following up a first-round knockout in his professional debut with a pair of shutout four-round decisions. He steps up to six rounds against Clark, who bested the 4-1 Malik Loften in his last fight.
Trey Lippe Morrison (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. TBA
8 Rounds, Heavyweight
Tulsa’s Morrison, son of the late heavyweight star Tommy Morrison, returns from a nearly two-year layoff intent on extending his knockout streak. A proven ticket-seller in Oklahoma, this will be Morrison’s 14th professional fight in the Sooner State.
Jeremiah Milton (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jayvone Dafney (2-2, 2 KOs)
4 Rounds, Heavyweight
Tulsa native Milton returns home after a pair of stoppage wins to begin his career late last year. Dafney is coming off a first-round knockout Feb. 27 in Georgia.
Smith vs Vlasov card
Main Card
- Joe Smith Jr vs Maxim Vlasov – for vacant WBO light heavyweight title
- Efe Ajagba vs Brian Howard
Undercard
- Jared Anderson vs Jeremiah Karpency
- Robson Conceicao vs Jesus Antonio Ahumada
- Albert Bell vs Manuel Rey Rojas
- Sonny Conto vs Waldo Cortes
- Troy Isley vs LaQuan Evans
- Duke Ragan vs. Charles Clark
- Trey Lippe Morrison vs TBA
- Jeremiah Milton vs Jayvone Dafney
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