Boxing and moving is something
Anthony Yarde does well. But when the slick moves and defensive awareness go out the window, he reverts to what he knows best.
Banging.
More times than not, abandoning his skills and getting into a full-on fist fight has worked for him. Come Nov. 22, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he’s hoping that it’ll work for him again.
Promoted as "Ring IV," the card will feature four title fights.
Abdullah Mason and
Sam Noakes will go at it for the vacant WBO lightweight strap, Jesse Rodriguez and Fernando Daniel Martinez will attempt to unify the junior bantamweight division and
Devin Haney will do his best to grab another title in his third weight class.
While each of those fights carries its own storyline, Yarde and Benavidez will close the show.
Normally, opponents of
Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) attempt to outpoint him from the outside. That style of attack has worked in spots. Yarde could employ that game plan, but where’s the fun in that?
“Let’s have a shootout, give me a shootout,” Yarde told
The Ring recently. “I will stand in the middle, he will stand in the middle, and we’ll have a shootout.”
The last person who decided that was a good idea didn’t enjoy the final result.
David Morrell, who was as confident as ever heading into their Feb. 1 bout, lost a fairly wide decision to Benavidez in Las Vegas. Yarde is feeling good about himself thanks to a four-fight win streak.
Since turning pro in 2015, Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) had a few goals. For
The Ring’s No. 4 light heavyweight, he’s dreamed of grabbing a world title. That can be accomplished if he gets the job done vs. Benavidez.
Another box he always wanted to check off was getting universal respect. He isn’t sure how Benavidez views him.
“I respect David Benavidez, and if he don't respect me already I’m sure after the fight he will have to respect me.”