Jared Anderson looks to continue his ascent towards the top of boxing’s heavyweight division when he faces Ryad Merhy in Corpus Christi, Texas on April 13. The 10-round bout, plus undercard action, will air on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Anderson (16-0) is a gifted boxer with 15 wins via knockout. “The Real Big Baby” is a controversial figure outside of the ring, having been charged with third-degree felony fleeing a police officer and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
However, when he focuses on boxing, he is one of the most savvy fighters at heavyweight, even at the young age of 24.
“I have a better IQ than Merhy. You have to have a high IQ to do this. I have one of the best IQs in the heavyweight division. So, make sure you watch the little things. Make sure you watch for the details,” Anderson said.
He needs to remain focused on boxing to try and take down Merhy (32-2), who is a former cruiserweight world champion. The 31-year-old Merhy won the WBA "regular" title in 2019 before moving north to focus his attention on the heavyweight division.
WATCH: Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy, exclusively on ESPN+
A rising star and a selection of former title contenders compete on the undercard of Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy. Here’s a breakdown of the entire Anderson vs. Merhy undercard.
Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy undercard
Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Ajagba record: 19-1
- Vianello record: 12-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-main event will be Efe Ajagba vs. Guido Vianello.
A 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Ajagba (19-1) turned pro in 2017. The Nigerian suffered his first loss in 2021 against Frank Sanchez but has since recovered by winning four straight. "The Silent Roller" beat Zhan Kossobutskiy via DQ in August 2023 following multiple low blows. A rising contender, his last contest was a TKO win over Joseph Goodall in November.
Vianello (12-1-1) turned pro in 2018. "The Gladiator" suffered his first loss in January 2023 against Jonathan Rice but has since won two straight. His last contest was a TKO win over Moses Johnson in February.
Robson Conceicao vs. Jose Guardado
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Conceicao record: 17-2-1
- Guardado record: 15-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Robson Conceicao faces Jose Guardado in super featherweight action.
A 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Conceicao (17-2-1) is a multi-time world title challenger. “Nino” lost against Oscar Valdez for the WBC super featherweight title and Shakur Stevenson in 2022 for the WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine belts.
His last contest was a high-profile clash against Emanuel Navarrete in November for the WBO belt, fighting to a draw despite suffering two knockdowns.
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Guardado (15-1-1) turned pro in 2017. The 25-year-old lost against Eduardo Cortes in June 2023 but rebounded against Aramis Solis in November.
Ruben Villa vs. Cristian Cruz
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Villa record: 21-1
- Cruz record: 22-6-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Ruben Villa vs. Cristian Cruz.
A two-time U.S. National Golden Gloves champion, Villa (21-1) turned pro in 2016. 'Drac" won local gold before losing to Emanuel Navarrete in 2020 for the WBO featherweight title. He has since won three straight, beating Brandon Valdez in September via decision.
Cruz (22-6-1) turned pro in 2014. "Lacandonsito" is on a seven-fight unbeaten streak, his last contest being a decision win over Ulises Suarez in November.
Abdullah Mason vs. Ronal Ron
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Mason record: 12-0
- Ron record: 14-5
- Belts at stake: N/A
Abdullah Mason faces Ronal Ron.
Mason (12-0) turned pro in 2021. The 20-year-old has won all but two fights via knockout, with his last contest being a stoppage win over Benjamin Gurment in February.
Ron (14-5) turned pro in 2017. He is 3-2 in his last five fights but is on a two-fight losing streak. The 26-year-old last fought in January, losing against Gregory Morales.
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Charly Suarez vs. Luis Coria
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweights
- Suarez record: 16-0
- Coria record: 15-6
- Belts at stake: N/A
A 2014 Asian Games silver medalist, Suarez (16-0) turned pro in 2019. The Filipino fighter has won local gold at the super featherweight level and last fought in August, beating Yohan Vasquez.
Coria (15-6) turned pro in 2016. The 25-year-old lost against Adam Lopez in 2020 for the NABF featherweight title. He has since gone 3-1 in his last four fights, losing his most recent contest to Omar Salcido in December.
Jalan Walker vs. Alejandro Guerrero
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Walker record: 12-0-1
- Guerrero record: 12-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Jalan Walker faces Alejandro Guerrero.
Walker (12-0-1) turned pro in 2019. "Sky Walker" has won all but two fights via knockout with his last fight being a KO win over Jorge Villegas in November.
Guerrero (12-4) turned pro in 2016. He has lost four straight since 2021, with his last contest being a decision defeat to Jose Izaguirre in May 2023.
When is Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy?
Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy airs on April 13. The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET. Anderson and Merhy should make their way to the ring around 12 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
| Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, April 13 | 10 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, April 13 | 7 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, April 14 | 2 a.m. GMT | 4 a.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sunday, April 14 | 1 p.m. AEDT |
3 p.m. AEDT |
WATCH: Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy, exclusively on ESPN+
How to watch Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy: TV channel, live stream
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | ESPN | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| UK and Ireland | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Arena | Sky GO |
| Australia | — | TBA |
The Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy main card will air on ESPN+ in the U.S. The undercard will air exclusively on ESPN+.
If Anderson vs. Merhy is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day money-back guarantee)
Jared Anderson vs. Ryad Merhy price: How much does the event cost?
You can pay $10.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $109.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $10.99/mo |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $109.99/yr |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $14.99/mo |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $24.99/mo |
