In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Anthony Yarde’s quest for a world title was halted yet again, this time by the relentless David Benavidez in Riyadh. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this defeat a testament to Benavidez’s dominance, or a missed opportunity for Yarde to rewrite his legacy? Let’s dive in.
For the third time in his career, Yarde found himself on the losing end of a world title fight, stopped in the seventh round by Benavidez. At 34, Yarde has now faced—and fallen to—three formidable opponents at this level: Sergey Kovalev, Artur Beterbiev, and now Benavidez. The pattern feels eerily familiar, with Benavidez leaving Yarde with a bloody nose in the sixth round before sealing the deal in the next. And this is the part most people miss—despite the loss, Yarde’s resilience was on full display, as he acknowledged Benavidez’s skill post-fight, telling BBC Radio 5Live, “I’m fantastic—he’s a hell of a fighter.”
Benavidez, who only recently moved up to the light-heavyweight division, not only retained his WBC title but also extended his flawless record to 31 fights. Nicknamed ‘The Mexican Monster’, he’s now eyeing a step up to cruiserweight to challenge for Gilberto Ramirez’s WBA and WBO titles. Bold move or overreach? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Meanwhile, Yarde’s future hangs in the balance after his fourth professional loss. His trainer, Tunde Ajayi, admitted the camp was dejected, stating, “You saw why so many people don’t want to fight him [Benavidez].” The plan, Ajayi revealed, was to surge late in the fight—a strategy that ultimately fell short. Is it time for Yarde to reconsider his approach, or does he still have what it takes to bounce back?
Shifting gears, the co-main event saw Devin Haney claim the WBO welterweight title over Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision, cementing his status as a three-division world champion. Haney, a former lightweight and super lightweight champ, knocked down Norman in the second round and maintained control with a sharp jab, securing scores of 114-113, 117-110, and 116-111. But here’s a thought-provoking question—is Haney’s dominance across divisions a sign of his greatness, or a reflection of weaker competition in those weight classes?
Earlier, Sam Noakes put up a valiant effort in a points loss to Abdullah Mason, who claimed the vacant WBO lightweight title. Despite a nasty cut from a head clash in the third round, Noakes pushed Mason into a grueling battle, though the American ultimately secured the win with scores of 115-113, 117-111, and 115-113. What does this mean for Noakes’ future? Could this loss be a stepping stone to greater things?
As the boxing world moves forward, these fights leave us with more questions than answers. What’s next for Yarde? Can Benavidez conquer cruiserweight? And how far can Haney’s reign extend? Let’s keep the conversation going—share your thoughts below!
