Jared Anderson's unbeaten run in heavyweight boxing came to a sudden end at the start of August. Martin Bakole stopped the American in the fifth round, delivering Anderson's first professional loss.
Anderson, known as "Big Baby," entered the ring as America's main heavyweight hope. At just 24 years old, he had built an impressive record. He'd beaten Charles Martin and Ryad Merhy by decision and knocked out all but two of his other opponents.
Bakole, on the other hand, came in as a self-declared "most avoided" fighter in boxing. The Congolese heavyweight had often talked about his sparring sessions with top fighters.
Many people questioned whether this fight was the right move for the young Anderson. Their concerns turned out to be justified. Bakole knocked Anderson down three times before the referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.
After the loss, Anderson took to social media to reflect on his performance.
"Wtf Was I Thinking Tryna Bang It Out With That Ass Mf"
Anderson's tweet shows he's questioning his decision to stand and trade punches with a heavyweight like Bakole. Now, he'll need to rebuild and work his way back to the top.
As for Bakole, he's got options. He might look for a revenge fight against Michael Hunter, the only fighter who's beaten him. Or he could set his sights on a bout with Zhilei Zhang.
This upset reminds us that in heavyweight boxing, one punch can change everything. It's a setback for Anderson, but at 24, he's got time to learn from this experience and come back stronger.
