Boxing

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde – The Hard-hitting Brit’s Toughest Challenge Yet!  

By Liam MatthewsNo Comments12 Mins Read
Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde

Saturday sees Light Heavyweight Unified Champion Artur Beterbiev put his three light heavyweight titles on the line in a much anticipated Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde bout in London. The undefeated champ is favored to win, but can Yarde land an upset? It’s anyone’s guess, but it should be an interesting night of boxing!.

Artur Beterbiev is an intimidating presence in the light heavyweight division with 18 wins, 18 knockouts, and 13 of those within five rounds. The younger Anthony Yarde will be looking to cause an upset as he’s won his last three fights by stoppage, but does he have what it takes to stop the champion? We’ll find out this Saturday!

We’ll help you figure this out in the passage below.

The Only World Champ with a 100{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} KO Record!

Since turning pro in June 2013, Beterbiev has been a devastating force in the light heavyweight division, knocking out all 18 of his opponents on his way to capturing the WBO, WBC, and IBF light heavyweight titles.

He will now look to do something similar against Yarde, hoping to secure an undisputed fight with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitri Bivol in the second half of 2023.

Anthony Yarde will look to make the most of his second chance at becoming the world champion when he takes on Unified World Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev.

Yarde failed in his first attempt to become a world champion after being beaten by an aging Sergey Kovalev in August 2019 and now faces an even more challenging test in the form of Beterbiev.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde Fight Date – Where is it Happening, and Which Titles Are on the Line?

WBC, WBO, and IBF lightweight champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) defends his all three titles against Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) on Saturday, January 28, at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London. Interestingly, this would not be the champion’s first visit to Great Britain. He has been there for an earlier fight at the 2012 Olympic Games.

On Saturday night, Anthony Yarde will take on the feared Artur Beterbiev for his second attempt at a light-heavyweight title. He is the underdog once again, just as he was when he faced Sergey Kovalev four years ago in Russia. However, this time he is more aware and confident after lessons were learnt from defeat.

“I think everything is just different,”

Yarde said, about how he feels this time around.

“He’s not Kovalev, Kovalev was years ago, almost four years ago, it’s a completely different situation, venue, time… I’m a completely different person in all aspects. I’ve matured. I feel fantastic.”

His coach Tunde Ajayi also believes that although hard experiences were endured in Russia, they have helped Yarde to grow into the fighter and man he is today.  

Who Will Broadcast Artur Beterbiev vs Yarde Fight?

Promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry in association with Top Rank, this huge clash at 175 pounds will be shown exclusively on BT Sport in the UK. And the US audiences will be able to enjoy it live and exclusive on ESPN+.

Beterbiev vs Yarde Tickets

Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at the OVO Arena, Wembley, on Saturday, January 28, 2023, go on sale from 11 am on Thursday, November 24, via AXS.com and ticketmaster.co.uk.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde’s Face-off at the Final Presser

On Thursday, January 26th, 2023, Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde had their final face-off in anticipation of their upcoming light heavyweight championship fight. This much-awaited clash will determine whether Beterbiev has what it takes to take on WBA champ Dmitry Bivol for a chance at the undisputed title – potentially later this year or, more likely, in the first quarter of 2024.

Beterbiev shared some of his thoughts with the press:

“I feel good. I hope on January 28, I will change a little bit,” said Beterbiev.

“I said he looks like a bodybuilder because of his muscles. I don’t have this muscle, and I didn’t say it to mean anything bad. I said it because he looks strong.”

Bob Arum, Top Rank promoter, also a part of the event, acknowledged Beterbiev’s potential:

“Here are fighters today that are known for their power. I think, pound for pound, the biggest puncher in boxing today is [Beterbiev].”

Embed from Getty Images

 

When asked to offer his thoughts on the upcoming battle between Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde, he continued:

“If Anthony is going to go out and fight Artur like Joe Smith did, then the fight will end early. If he boxes a little bit with Artur, the fight will end in the late to middle rounds.”

How It All Started?

This is what sent boxing lovers around the globe in awe last February.

Interactions like these further added fuel to the fire.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go any further than this. Why? Because fate had some other plans. It hit Beterbiev harder than he was ever ready for it. He got injured in his training camp a month out of the fight scheduled in October 2022.

All this build-up finally led to another shot at Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde in 2023. And since the fight is already here, let’s examine how both fighters view it.

Beterbiev’s Take on the Fight

Beterbiev won his first world title in November 2017 with a 12th-round stoppage against Enrico Koelling and went on to defend the IBF title twice more. Once against Britain’s Callum Johnson and then against the champion WBC Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019.

Beterbiev defended his titles against Adam Deines and Marcus Browne before a three-belt unification bout against WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. in June at the Hulu Theater Madison Square Garden. It took him two rounds to stop the crowd-favorite American opponent.

In the amateur ranks, Beterbiev won silver at the 2007 World Championships. Then, he secured gold at the 2009 event. He also won gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 European Championships.

As for the current challenge ahead of him, he embraces what he’s up against and plans to deal with it the right way. 

“I never back down from a challenge, and Anthony Yarde is a top contender who asked for this fight. I look forward to fighting in London for the first time since the Olympics,”

Beterbiev said.

“Yarde called me ‘slow’ after my fight with Joe Smith Jr., but slow and steady wins the race. And on January 28, I will win in London.”

Considering Beterbiev’s career accomplishments, he definitely seems to be someone who walks his talk. Perhaps this gives him the level of confidence that oozes from whatever he does in his trade.

The light heavyweight champion, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Gareth Davies from Top Rank and share his thoughts on this weekend’s upcoming title fight against Anthony Yarde. Always one to offer his frank opinion on various topics, Beterbiev offered some insight into his views on the fight. Find some of his musings below.

 

When asked about his plans for London fight week:

“We have some plans for being here, and everything going (according to) plan.”

When asked about being hyper-focused through the fight week:

“When I sign contract, I’m already focused. But when it’s fight week, my focus is more than normal.”

On what he fights for:

“Usually people work (to) have money, to live, to have good life. With me it’s the same.”

When asked if he believes he was born to be a fighter:

“No. If I choose again, I never be fighter because it’s no good to beat people, to punching people.”

What are his expectations when faces Anthony Yarde after the first bell:

“We will live and we will see. I don’t know. I can’t do prediction. We prepared for this fight, me and their team, eight weeks minimum. I think it’s gonna be good fight.

“Of course I have (a plan) but I can’t tell you that plan.”

When asked about the source of his overwhelming power:

“I think the secret is in boxing gym. There is many things, maybe, but I don’t know which one is helping me. I think it’s from hard work. You do work, you focus on your work — I think it comes (from) there.”

About how long he plans to continue fighting:

“Anthony Yarde, Saturday night. I’m not dreaming about someone to have fight, you know. If we have some fights coming (down the line) we will be thinking and we will take them if it’s a good fight.”

What Does Yarde Make of This Fight?

Beterbiev comes into this fight after having knocked out the tough American fighter Joe Smith Jr. Calling out a guy who makes short work of someone as skilled as Joe Smith Jr. is nothing other than trouble. But Yarde is the kind who likes to play around where the trouble is. 

So, this is what he came up with despite seeing the destruction Beterbiev is capable of: 

“Beterbiev is a wrecking ball. But I will be the breath of wind he cannot catch. Yes, he is the best of the light heavyweight champions now. But even in this brief fight, I saw plenty of ways of beating him. I would be more afraid fighting a master boxer. This man has serious power, but he’s not as fast as I expected. This is a challenge I will relish. “

The Wembley event marks the second world title attempt for Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs), who previously traveled to Chelyabinsk, Russia, to face longtime champion Sergey Kovalev. 

Unfortunately, Yarde couldn’t make it past the 11th round, though he almost secured a win for himself earlier in the 8th round. 

Yarde’s first title came in fight #11 when he defeated Chris Hobbs in four rounds for the Southern Region title.

“There’s been killers in boxing before. I do believe that styles make fights,”

insisted Yarde.

“When I’m challenged, whenever there is a challenge, it brings out the best in me.”

Yarde then went on to fight seven consecutive bouts with the WBO European or Intercontinental on the line or both. Yarde knocked out each of those foes in seven rounds or less. 

After Kovalev, Yarde continued to fight during the pandemic against Dec Spelman and at home against Lyndon Arthur. Yarde failed via a split against his rival in Manchester. 

But Yarde sought redemption against Arthur in Birmingham soon after. Yarde knocked out Arthur in four rounds to regain the WBO No 1 spot.

Irrespective of what Yarde says, Yarde is aware of the tough task he faces against the unbeaten Beterbiev next month. 

“It feels like the right time for me. I came from nothing, and if I get an opportunity, I take it,”

he said. 

“I need to stop fighting monsters. But I got into this sport to fight the best. Lions have no choice but to hunt if they are going hungry.

“Since I’ve started boxing, I’ve not had more than one week out of the gym. Beterbiev had more than 200 amateur fights and 18 professional, but I’m going to be sharp and focused.

He added:

“In the light-heavyweight division, he has been nothing but a wrecking ball, knocking out every opponent so far. 

“He’s very powerful, but I feel I’m faster and, by age, I’m fresher, but in experience, I’m behind him.”

However, he firmly believes he can do it despite having complete awareness of the brutal nature of the job at hand in outsmarting an adversary who’s never lost a battle yet. 

“January 28 will be my night,”

said Yarde.

“My destiny playing out in my home city, and this is what I have been longing for throughout my professional career, which started at Wembley. I won’t make any big predictions for this fight against a strong, unified champion in Artur Beterbiev. But what I will say is that I will leave nothing to chance, and I am at my best when I fight fire with fire.”

Concluding Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde 

Artur Beterbiev has proven to be a powerhouse in the light heavyweight division and it’s unlikely that anyone will disagree with Bob Arum when he says that Beterbiev is likely to take out Anthony Yarde if he doesn’t pressurize him early on.

So, if Yarde hopes to have any chance of winning the fight, he must come up with a game plan that isn’t centered around hoping Beterbiev gets tired and then capitalizing on his fatigue late in the fight. This approach simply won’t work as Beterbiev packs too much power and Yarde’s punch resistance & stamina are not built to withstand it.

The upside for Beterbiev is that this is pretty much what we saw in his last fight against Joe Smith. And Beterbiev has shown that he can match that ferocity and finish his opponents in the early rounds.

All in all, an exciting fight between two contenders who are destructive in the light heavyweight division. Despite being an underdog here, Yarde has all that it takes to knock his opponents out.

So, let’s see who comes victorious out of the two world-class light heavyweights, setting up a blockbuster world title unification bout against Dmitry Bivol.

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