Home Boxing News Artur Beterbiev confident of victory, but Anthony Yarde warns he has improved...

Artur Beterbiev confident of victory, but Anthony Yarde warns he has improved since Sergey Kovalev defeat

Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde. Photo credit: Queensberry Promotions

In what promises to be an all action affair, unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev 18-0 (18) will defend his WBC, WBO and IBF world titles when he takes on Anthony Yarde 23-2 (22) at Wembley Arena in London, England on Saturday night.

The 38-year-old Canadian-based Russian is coming off a two round drubbing of Joe Smith Jr 28-4 (22) seven months ago that saw him add the WBO belt to his collection of hardware.

But despite Beterbiev’s impeccable knockout ratio, he says he is ready for the fight to go late or even to the cards against the hard-hitting Yarde.

“I feel good. I hope on January 28 I will change a little bit (to turn into a monster),” Beterbiev said.

“I said he looks like a bodybuilder because of his muscles. I don’t have this muscle and I didn’t say it to mean anything bad. I said it because he looks strong!

“In our camp we always try to be ready for different scenarios. If it is a tough fight we are going to be ready, we will be ready for whatever. I just try to do my best.”

Englishman Yarde, 31, knows the odds are stacked against him but says he doesn’t care.

“Being underdog, overdog, middledog doesn’t matter to me. I’m a dog,” Yarde said. “When I get in that ring and start throwing my hands about, everyone knows what I can do.

“I understand why the bookies have got (the odds) like they have and that’s what edges me on. He should be respected because of what he’s done, but when you get in the ring you try and take away the respect from your opponent. This fight means three belts, legacy and history. It feels like it’s earned, no easy way.

“A lot of fighters get a mandatory world title or someone that they are meant to beat. They are the A-side. But I like this route, it gives me a good feeling and the best part of the whole thing is that it’s him.”

The bout will be the second time Yarde has contested a world title. In August 2019 he travelled to Russia to face Sergey Kovalev 35-4-1 (29) for his WBO strap. Yarde had the home fighter in trouble in the eighth but was unable to finish the job, eventually going down by 11th round technical knockout.

“The first (title) fight I was green. 18 fights in, a big novice in the sport. I had heart and went out to Russia, it was a very different experience,” Yarde said.

“Sometimes you go through things on your journey to strengthen and prepare you. I’ve learned since then as well. I’m a different kind of fighter and I’m ready for Saturday.”

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