In an intriguing clash of world-rated contenders Anthony Yarde 20-1 (19) will meet Lyndon Arthur 17-0 (12) at Church House in Westminster, London this Saturday night.
Yarde and Arthur share a common opponent in Dec Spelman. Arthur outpointed Spelman in July while Yarde stopped him in six in September.
The win for Yarde was his second in a row since his lone loss to WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in Russia in August last year.
“Let’s just wait and see but, to be honest, I think I have shown that no-one can keep me off even at the highest level,” said WBC number nine, IBF number 10 and WBO number four Yarde.
“When I start pressing I can press but, again, it is about learning – I’m sure he is still learning as well – and about putting on the best performances. I am definitely looking forward to the future.
“I just feel like it is another one of those things [the Kovalev fight], challenging myself mentally. I never envisioned anything like that happening because I was extremely confident and what I have been through this year is conditioning of the mind. To be mentally and physically focused and as strong as possible.
“A lot of people couldn’t be here with what I have been through this year. Again, I didn’t make any excuses and just got back in the ring. It is ‘Lions in the Camp’.
“I am one of these people who takes nothing for granted. Each time I can get in a boxing ring and do this as a professional I just thank God. It is about making the most of it, having fun and, as I said before, it is about being explosive, being entertaining and being smart.
“I am supremely confident in my abilities. He has said it about me over who I have fought and, again, styles make fights and I am not going to be there to be eating jabs or anything like that.
“I fought someone with one of the best jabs in the business and it was only later on in the fight when I needed to win by knockout that it told. With that experience my focus is to be even smarter, even better and you learn from your mistakes.”
Arthur will be making the second defence the Commonwealth light heavyweight title he won against Emmanuel Anim in Leeds in October last year.
“I’ve watched him go through the gears with the opponents he’s faced and, with being from the same promotional team, it has always made sense for us to fight,” said IBF and WBO number six Arthur.
“We’ve both been winning, both been doing our thing, we’re both British and, as everyone says, it makes for a great British dust-up. That is what it is going to be on the night.
“It is exciting times, I am excited to get in there and excited to see what’s going to happen on the night. I wanna test myself against what is supposed to be the best in the business, so let’s get it on, let’s do it. Why would I be here if I didn’t think I would win?
“We will see what happens on the night but I believe I am better and I believe I will win. I am not here to make the numbers up or be an opponent. I might be on the B-side right now, but I am here to change that. I feel like I am special.”
