{"id":587855,"date":"2025-11-23T01:53:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/587855\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T01:53:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:53:31","slug":"anthony-yarde-remains-valiant-in-pursuing-lifetime-dream-of-a-world-title-but-must-answer-one-key-question-if-he-is-to-stun-david-benavidez-in-riyadh-writes-jeff-powell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/587855\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Yarde remains valiant in pursuing lifetime dream of a world title, but must answer one key question if he is to stun\u00a0David Benavidez in Riyadh, writes JEFF POWELL"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JEFF POWELL, SPORTS WRITER AND BOXING COLUMNIST<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 11:33 EST, 22 November 2025 | Updated: 11:34 EST, 22 November 2025 <\/p>\n

The Yarde bird flaps his wings in the Arabian desert this Saturday night in yet another bid to win a world light-heavyweight title.<\/p>\n

The portents are no\u00a0more promising\u00a0than for his two previous attempts to upset stellar\u00a0champions but Anthony Yarde<\/a> vows to put up another\u00a0performance worthy of his street-fighting origins.<\/p>\n

The betting odds are heavily against the Beast From The East – the East End of London that is – as he takes on the undefeated David Benavidez\u00a0in Riyadh but he remains as valiant as ever in his\u00a0belief that he can fulfill his lifetime ambition.<\/p>\n

Yarde boldly went to Russia as a late-starting professional novice in 2019 to take on Sergey Kovalev. The Krusher was a smidgin past his prime and was pushed hard until he landed an 11th\u00a0round knock out as his challenger faded after the eighth.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2023 and Yarde believed he was ready\u00a0for the formidable unified world champion Artur Beterbiev.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Again he fought well and home-town scoring by two of the three judges at Wembley Arena\u00a0had him ahead\u00a0at the end of the seventh round, even though his opponent had thrown and landed almost twice as many punches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Anthony <\/p>\n

Anthony Yarde is hoping for third time lucky as he bids for a world light-heavyweight title<\/p>\n

\"Yarde <\/p>\n

Yarde faced Sergey Kovalev as a late-starting professional novice in 2019, but suffered an 11th round knock out after fading after the eighth<\/p>\n

\"Yarde <\/p>\n

Yarde was dropped in the eighth when he faced formidable unified world champion Artur Beterbiev at Wembley in 2023<\/p>\n

\"Yarde, <\/p>\n

Yarde, right, is the underdog again when he faces\u00a0David Benavidez, who is known as the Mexican Monster, in Saudi Arabia on Saturday<\/p>\n

Another of those embarrassing miscarriages of justice against foreigners in a British ring was averted in the eighth as Beterbiev dropped Yarde, whose corner threw in the towel to save their man from the ensuing barrage.<\/p>\n

Now for the WBC champion who, not for nothing, is known as the Mexican Monster. There is some justification to claims by David Benavidez that he has been swerved thus far by the triumvirate of\u00a0Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol and Canelo Alvarez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For the American born Benavidez this weekend in Saudi Arabia is a means for keeping active while he waits for either Beterbiev or Bivol\u00a0to prevail in their delayed and decisive trilogy battle.<\/p>\n

For Yarde the issue remains the same as that which dogged his two previous visits to the summit. Has his unorthodox training been modified enough to improve his stamina in the latter stages of big fights? There really is no substitute for dawn runs, whatever the weather, and hard sparring in the gym.<\/p>\n

Can it be third time lucky?\u00a0He says: ‘I feel stronger\u00a0than ever and even more convinced that I can beat absolutely anyone.’<\/p>\n

At 34, this may be Yarde’s last chance of strapping on the green and gold WBC belt which is ‘the one I’ve always coveted.’<\/p>\n

If it is not be, then at least this weekend’s\u00a0Riyadh Season paymasters will send him home with a healthy retirement package.<\/p>\n

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