Home Boxing News Winner of Lydon Arthur vs Anthony Yarde in line to face Joe...

Winner of Lydon Arthur vs Anthony Yarde in line to face Joe Smith Jr for WBO strap

Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur. Photo credit: Getty Images

Anthony Yarde 21-2 (20) and Lyndon Arthur 19-0 (13) will clash in a rematch at the Copper Box Arena in London, England on Saturday night with the winner in line to face WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr 27-3 (21).

The duo first met in December last year with Arthur claiming a split decision victory by scores of 115-114 twice and 111-117.

“I think it is a mixture looking back on the first fight,” Yarde said. “I am not going to take anything away from Lyndon because he did his job, stayed on the back foot, popped out the jab and didn’t engage… he got the decision, a split decision and there are mixed opinions in boxing.

“One judge gave it to me by four or five rounds and two gave it to him by one round so it is just perspective and how you see the fight. At the time I thought I won it, they thought it was close and, going back and watching it from a different angle, I thought it was a closer fight as well.

“I am not about to bullshit anyone or lie about anything. I am a realist and you cannot progress or get better if you are not honest with yourself.”

Arthur hit back at claims from Yarde that he fought in a negative style.

“It is completely cool for him to say I am a boring fighter because the boring fighter won,” Arthur said.

“I don’t need to listen to anyone, if they think I am boring, everyone is entitled to an opinion. It is sport and everyone in this room has an opinion on me and him.

“Whether they like me or him is down to them. I don’t care. If I am boring, I will win boring. We will find out on Saturday whether a crowd benefits either of us.

“He thinks it does, but I don’t think it benefits him. I don’t care, it is a fight and the crowd can’t get in there. They can scream, they can shout and it will make a fun atmosphere.”

Promoter Frank Warren said there was a lot on the line for the winner.

“It is a fantastic fight and it should be added that Lyndon is number one with the WBO, so the winner of this fight will get the winner of Joe Smith v Callum Johnson in January,” Warren said.

“That is what is on the table, there is more at stake in this fight and, as we know, the first fight took place behind closed doors. It was a good fight but it didn’t spark as I expected it to.

“It was a close fight that I thought Lyndon won, but this one will be different for many reasons. There is more at stake and it is in front of a live audience.

“They know each other well enough now, they have shared a ring for 12 rounds, so who has learned the most from that first fight? Who will change tactics from the first fight? Who will adapt?”