Third Time Lucky? Yarde To Show 'best Version' In Title Bid

Briton Anthony Yarde says he is simply a "better combatant now" than during his erstwhile title challenges arsenic he intends to yet go a world champion astatine nan 3rd attempt.

The 34-year-old fights undefeated champion David Benavidez for nan WBC light-heavyweight title successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia connected Saturday.

Yarde has doubly fallen short, losing to Sergey Kovalev successful 2019 and Artur Beterbiev 4 years later - and galore position this arsenic his past realistic chance to triumph a world title.

"I support proceeding 'three time's a charm' aliases 'third clip lucky'. I don't really judge successful luck. I consciousness for illustration I'm a amended combatant now," he said.

The 28-year-old Benavidez, an American of Mexican heritage, has stopped 24 of his 30 opponents and is simply a erstwhile two-time super-middleweight champion.

Nicknamed nan "Mexican Monster", he promised a "war".

"I've had my oculus connected Anthony Yarde for a agelong time. He has powerfulness and heart. No matter who he faces, it's a bully fight," added nan Phoenix-born Benavidez.

"I want to springiness group action-packed fights. This 1 is going to unrecorded up to nan moment."

Earlier, heated words betwixt nan camps of WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr and chap American challenger Devin Haney - who meet connected nan undercard - led to information stepping successful arsenic Haney's father, Bill, moved toward Norman's father, Brian Sr.

In contrast, nan headliners showed communal respect, pinch Yarde and Benavidez sharing smiles and a lukewarm clasp during their face-off.

Yarde enters nan bout pinch 27 wins from 30 contests. When reminded of a erstwhile question and reply successful which he claimed he would put Benavidez to sleep, nan Londoner joked: "Did I opportunity that?"

Dressed successful a crisp achromatic tracksuit and sunglasses, Yarde reflected connected nan setbacks he has faced astatine nan highest level.

"I consciousness this is nan champion type of me. I ever said I didn't want an easy route," he added.

"I don't want to triumph vacant titles. That's why I went to Russia to look Kovalev. People told maine not to conflict Beterbiev - I don't care.

"The amended nan fighter, nan bigger nan reward. This juncture feels right."

Despite an fierce estimation successful nan ring, Benavidez showed a softer broadside arsenic his 2 children joined him connected stage.

He has targeted a unification conflict pinch light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol if he thumps Yarde, but is not overlooking nan Briton.

Maidstone lightweight Sam Noakes challenges American Abdullah Mason for nan vacant WBO title connected nan undercard.

The 28-year-old has stopped 15 of 17 opponents, but is nan underdog against nan highly-rated Mason.

Ohio's Mason has an moreover much destructive record, pinch 17 stoppages successful 19 victories, and different occurrence would make nan 21-year-old boxing's youngest reigning world champion.

"Boxing gets to summation it's favourite young caller talent and I'll beryllium dominating nan section from Saturday forward," he said.

But a assured Noakes predicted a knockout, saying being nan outsider intends "everyone betting connected maine will triumph a batch of money".

Britain started nan week pinch only 2 antheral world champions - Nick Ball (WBA featherweight) and Lewis Crocker (IBF welterweight).

Fabio Wardley was past elevated to WBO heavyweight champion connected Tuesday aft Oleksandr Usyk vacated.

Wins for Noakes and Yarde connected Saturday could make it 5 antheral world champions.