It’s official. WBC, WBO, IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) will defend his belts against WBO #1 Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday, January 28. Promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry, in association with Top Rank, the fight will be shown exclusively on BT Sport in the UK and streaming live and exclusive on ESPN+ in the U.S. Tickets for Beterbiev-Yarde go on general sale Thursday.
Artur Beterbiev: “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. 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.”
Anthony Yarde: “January 28 will be my night. 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.”
Kovalev had his way with Yarde so Beterviev should be able to stop Yarde easier.
Yes, I agree. Beterviev will simply move forward in the fight and chop Yarde down once he retreats going backwards. Yarde will realize the raw power of Beterviev will have him trying to survive than actually fight.
Beterviev easy TKO.
Anyone excited for this fight? Does Yarde have any chance of upsetting Beterviev?
I am looking forward to this fight……
This is it for Yarde. He’s 31, he’s in his prime. He’ll have a 38 year old opponent who’ll be right in front of him the entire fight, he has the experience from the Kovalev fight and he’ll be in his home country. If he has anything at the highest level, he’ll have every opportunity to show it in January.
Look at the KO % for both! This is a six round fight. AB by concussive ending with a brain scan shortly there after.
Beterbiev in 6 without breaking a sweat
Easy win for Artur, slow and steady will win the race by vicious KO
I don’t believe an upset can happen, but I strongly believe in a one sided affair with Beterbiev stopping Yarde inside 7 rounds. Oleksandr Gvozdyk is the only fighter I thought could be able to defeat Artur, but it didn’t happen, the other threat IMO is Bivol, but still, even at this age, Beterbiev might sop him as well
Boxing needs this. Finally a fireworks display for all to witness, This won’t go 12 for sure. Sick of seeing boxers run around and finally some medicine.
Should be a firefight. Yarde is younger, in shape, hits almost as hard as Beterbiev, and fighting in his hometown, which gives him extra motivation. Betrbiev should win, but it won’t be a walk in the park.
Agree
cool. then bivol
Yarde, “no mas” in 4 rounds!
This fight doesn’t go past 4. Stay busy fight for Beterbiev before going for a unification against Bivol, hopefully. Yarde has slipped a few levels in the last few years, unless he can hurt Beterbiev out the gate, I don’t see much resistance from him.