Bloodied Yarde stopped in third world title heartbreak

After being repeatedly defeated by WBC champion David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia, British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde’s third attempt to win a world title was met with heartache.

American Benavidez took control and launched a barrage in the seventh inning, sending 34-year-old Yarde to the ground.

With one minute left in the round, the referee was forced to stop the match because Yarde’s nose was splattered all over the canvas and a heavy flurry of punches were coming from Yarde.

“I stayed there,” I said. Yarde remarked on BBC Radio 5 Live, “I’m a fighter.”

It sounded competitive to me. I am aware of his good pressure. I was thinking about the middle rounds, the dog rounds, and the boxing match.

He struck me with a good shot on the nose because he had caught me first and had quick hands. I felt lightheaded after he struck me while I was down when I took a knee.

Although Yarde was down, Benavidez received two points for punches, but the outcome was already certain.

The Londoner may now have to accept the possibility that a world title might not be available to him after previously losing to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022.

Benavidez, 28, maintains his winning streak with 25 incredible knockout victories.

The fighters were welcomed to the ring at 05:30 local time, just before sunrise in Riyadh, with a schedule that was specifically designed for the Mexican and American television audience.

Yarde, who was born in Hackney, pausing to take in the arena and ostensibly enjoy the moment, made an understated entrance.

Benavidez appeared completely at ease while waving his five-year-old son and entourage in the ring while fist-bumping the judges.

Both men made a cautious start: Yarde, who carried serious power with 24 knockouts in 27 victories, and Benavidez, who is renowned for his unrelenting punch output.

Yarde tied up Benavidez’s right arm over his shoulder as the round came to a close, causing the “Mexican Monster” to fire a dozen or so quick lefts in the direction of the head.

Yarde was not quite a sitting duck when he won the championship, perhaps because he had shown the champion too much respect.

Benavidez appeared to be back in action in the sixth round despite a brief performance from the challenger.

Yarde began to rub his nose in anger and appeared to be getting more restless.

Long-term mentor Tunde Ajayi encouraged the young warrior to “you’re a lion, you’re a lion.”

But Benavidez quickly switched between southpaw and orthodox landings on the head and body, switching between southpaw and orthodox at will.

Yarde was floored by a particularly heavy barrage, and Yarde received a proper penalty for the late punch.

Yarde’s career has been defined by a willingness to rely on his own detriment and the occasional big-money domestic fights with the likes of Joshua Buatsi in search of world awards after turning pro a decade ago without any amateur background.

When he faced Kovalev, a baptism of fire that would become the defining start to his career, he was still relatively unclothed when he traveled to Russia.

And he did a great job before being overtaken when he later joined Beterbiev, one of the most feared punchers in world boxing.

Yarde has once more demonstrated that despite performing at the highest level, he only performs against the very best.

Although retirement may be mentioned, light-heavyweight competitors still have plenty of fights to go through.