Fans have filled the gap themselves. On Reddit and other forums, the discussion keeps circling the same point. Urgency is missing. That concern is amplified by Anderson’s own past comments about retiring at 27. He is 26 now. The clock is no longer theoretical, and every month without a fight sharpens the question of whether he still wants the grind.
The Kollias bout did not help his case. Anderson won clearly, but he took clean shots early and never imposed himself. Late in the fight, a strange trip or shove sequence left him looking irritated and unfocused rather than in control. It felt less like a confident reset and more like a fighter getting through an assignment.
That impression lingered. The Bakole loss remains the reference point, and the Kollias win did not overwrite it.
Late in 2025, Anderson was loosely connected to a possible IBF title eliminator against Frank Sanchez. That position ultimately went elsewhere, with Richard Torrez Jr. emerging as the active option. Given Anderson’s recent performances, missing that fight may have been protection rather than misfortune.
He is still promoted by Top Rank. Bob Arum once called him the next great American heavyweight. That line belonged to a different phase of his career. The Bakole defeat collapsed that narrative quickly, and nothing since has rebuilt it.
Physically, the tools remain. At 6 foot 4, with natural power and athleticism, Anderson still looks like a heavyweight who should be competing at a high level. What is missing is visible intent. If his route back requires a real eliminator against a dangerous opponent, confidence in the outcome is thin.
If Anderson retired tomorrow, it would still surprise people. But the pause, the inactivity, and the history of early retirement talk have changed how he is seen. Talent was never the question. Desire now is.
