Anthony Yarde is in no way involved with the menace ready on the opposite aspect of his upcoming battle this weekend.
A shot at lineal and unified WBC/IBF/WBO gentle heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev awaits Yarde because the WBO obligatory challenger. The battle was as a consequence of happen in late October, just for Beterbiev to must delay the championship conflict after not recovering in time from summertime surgical procedure to honor the battle date.
The bout is now again on target to happen subsequent January in London, which is eagerly embraced by the assured gentle heavyweight contender from Ilford, Essex.
“There’s been killers in boxing earlier than. I do consider that types make fights,” insisted Yarde. “Once I’m challenged, at any time when there’s a problem it brings out the perfect in me.”
No better problem awaits any gentle heavyweight than a showdown with Beterbiev (18-0, 18KOs). It’s a battle that Yarde (22-2, 21KOs) has known as for since being named as subsequent in line for the WBO title.
First up for Yarde is a stay-busy battle in opposition to Bulgarian puncher Stefani Koykov (14-1, 12KOs), who brings a 12-fight win streak into their scheduled ten-round bout this Saturday at Telford Worldwide Centre in Telford, England. At finest, it’s a possible lure battle for Yarde—although in actuality, a showcase alternative for the 31-year-old contender forward of his deliberate second title problem.
Yarde suffered an eleventh-round knockout loss to then-WBO titlist Sergey Kovalev of their August 2019 title battle in Chelyabinsk, Russia. It was the primary defeat suffered by Yarde, although his inventory rose following his valiant effort in a battle the place he trailed 96-93, 97-94 and 98-92 on the time of the stoppage. He has since received 4 of his final 5 begins, together with a fourth-round stoppage of Lyndon Arthur final December to avenge a previous defeat.
“I’m higher than I used to be a number of years in the past,” Yarde insisted. “I feel it’s thrilling occasions for the longer term.”
Yarde-Koykov is a part of a BT Sport/ESPN+ telecast headlined by unbeaten Liam Davies (12-0, 5KOs) in a twelve-round junior featherweight bout with Romania’s Ionut Baluta (15-3, 3KOs).
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox