New York City, NY - Jared Anderson returned to the ring on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden’s Theater, looking to rebound from the first defeat of his career. While he secured a unanimous decision win over Greece’s Marios Kollias, the performance was far from the dominant, statement-making comeback he had hoped for.

The 25-year-old heavyweight contender from Toledo, Ohio, took control in the later rounds but encountered more resistance than expected against the determined Kollias (12-4-1, 10 KOs). Judges scored the bout 99-91 (twice) and 98-92, all in favor of Anderson (18-1, 15 KOs).

Anderson, known for his aggression and power, started the fight pressing forward and attacking the body. However, Kollias made it clear early on that he wasn’t there just to make up the numbers. He landed sharp left hooks in the opening round, briefly backing up Anderson and showing no signs of intimidation.

Kollias continued to find openings in the second and third rounds, landing enough clean right hands to keep Anderson cautious. The Greek fighter’s willingness to engage surprised many, given Anderson’s reputation as a knockout artist.

By the fourth round, Anderson adjusted by mixing his body work with steady pressure. While he absorbed some clean punches, his superior conditioning and accuracy began to take a toll on Kollias, who started to slow down.

From the sixth round onward, Anderson asserted control. His jab became a key weapon, setting up heavy right hands and wearing down Kollias. The Greek fighter’s output decreased as he struggled to handle Anderson’s volume and pressure.

The eighth and ninth rounds saw Anderson land some of his cleanest shots of the fight, punishing Kollias against the ropes. But despite the growing dominance, Anderson was unable to secure the stoppage.

The final round turned bizarre when Anderson suddenly threw Kollias to the canvas with around 50 seconds left, an unnecessary foul that went largely unpunished by referee David Fields. Shortly after, Kollias backed Anderson into the ropes and unloaded three right hands, appearing to win the closing moments of the fight.

This fight was Anderson’s first since his devastating knockout loss to Martin Bakole last August. That defeat, which saw Anderson knocked down three times before being stopped in the fifth round, derailed his rapid rise in the heavyweight division.

Saturday’s performance was an improvement, but it left questions unanswered. Anderson dominated in stretches but failed to close the show against a fighter he was expected to stop. His defensive flaws were once again on display, and Kollias—despite losing clearly—exposed vulnerabilities that could be exploited by better opposition.

Anderson remains a highly regarded prospect, but this was not the kind of statement win that suggests he’s ready for another top-tier opponent just yet. He may need a few more tune-ups before stepping back into the deep end of the heavyweight division.

For now, Anderson is back in the win column. But his journey back to title contention remains a work in progress.