364 days after losing his first encounter to Lyndon Arthur Londoner
Anthony Yarde produced a devastating reminder to the light heavyweight
division of his power to finish opponents by ending Arthur’s
undefeated streak inside four rounds. Yarde is now in position to
challenge the winner of the World Boxing Organisation title after
American Joe Smith Jr defends the title against fellow Briton Callum
Johnson on January 16 in the United States. Yarde set about Arthur
from the opening bell in the rematch for the WBO Intercontinental and
Commonwealth titles gaining revenge after losing their first fight on
points behind closed doors in a sluggish performance in front of a
packed Copper Box Arena in Stratford.
“People really didn’t understand what I was going through at the
time,” said an emotional Yarde afterwards, in reference to having to
deal with the loss of close relatives to COVID-19 last year. “When I’m
on song and aggressive, I can take out anyone in the division,
including the champions. This victory means so much, and I feel I’ve
put the record straight.”
The start was thrilling. Yarde began hard and fast, so much more
aggressive than in the first encounter. Arthur tried his best to tie
up his powerful foe, but to no avail. After hurting Arthur with a
succession of uppercuts in the fourth stanza, Yarde floored the
champion with a right hook after a huge assault on the ropes, with the
Mancunian counted out by referee Bob Williams.
Promoter Frank Warren reaffirmed Yarde’s explosive power in the 175lb
division. “Anthony proved once again that he is a devastating finisher
and showed that the loss a year ago was a blip. We will now be pushing
the WBO for him to face the winner of Smith and Johnson”.
Controversy dogged the precursor to the main event as Hamzah Sheeraz
was lucky to escape being disqualified after punching opponent Bradley
Skeete twice while his rival was down on the canvas. Well behind in
the fight, as 34-year-old veteran Skeete outfoxed and outboxed the
undefeated super welterweight twelve years his junior, Sheeraz felled
Skeete in the eighth round but then landed two further punches while
Skeete was on his knees. Referee Steve Gray opted to deduct a point
from Sheeraz and Skeete took his time to regain his feet sand decided
to fight on, but was down again in the eighth and finished in the
ninth. Sheeraz, who was very fortunate, moved on to thirteen fights
undefeated in his professional career.