British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde’s third bid for a world title ended in disappointment as WBC champion David Benavidez produced a systematic victory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After a cautious opening, Benavidez took control and, midway through the seventh round, sent the 34-year-old Yarde to the canvas with a heavy barrage. Blood streamed from Yarde’s nose and stained the canvas, and with about a minute left another flurry forced the referee to stop the contest.
“I stuck in there. I’m a fighter,” Yarde told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I felt like it was competitive. I know how he comes with good pressure. I was boxing, boxing, thinking middle rounds, the dog rounds, we would exchange. He has quick hands, caught me first and hit me with a good shot on the nose. When I took a knee and he hit me when I was down, I was dizzy after that.”
Benavidez was penalised two points for punches landed while Yarde was down, but the stoppage outcome was already clear. Yarde, who previously lost world title fights to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022, may now have to accept that a world crown could slip beyond reach. Benavidez, 28, remained unbeaten, improving his ledger to 31 wins with 25 knockouts.
After the fight Benavidez — of Mexican heritage — said he plans to move up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on 2 May, aiming to become a three-weight world champion.
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced the fighters at 05:30 local time, with the card timed for Mexican and American television audiences. Hackney-born Yarde made a subdued entrance, taking in the arena, while Benavidez appeared relaxed, fist-bumping fans and accompanied by his five-year-old son and entourage.
Both men, noted for work-rate and power respectively, started carefully. Benavidez, famed for relentless output, and Yarde, who came in with 24 knockouts in 27 wins, felt each other out. In the fourth Benavidez tried to provoke Yarde, who replied with a sharp right. As that round ended, Yarde tied up Benavidez’s right arm and was met with a series of rapid lefts.
Marked under his right eye, Yarde was not yet a sitting target but struggled to win rounds, perhaps showing the champion too much respect. In the sixth Yarde began to rub blood from his nose and look unsettled. Trainer Tunde Ajayi urged him from the corner: “You’re a warrior, you’re a lion.”
Benavidez then landed fast combinations to head and body, switching between southpaw and orthodox. A heavy sequence sent Yarde down and drew a penalty for Benavidez. Another sustained attack, finished with a heavy left hook, led the referee to halt the contest to protect the challenger.
Yarde turned professional a decade ago without an amateur background and has often bypassed the traditional domestic route — and domestic big-money fights such as a bout with Joshua Buatsi — in pursuit of immediate world honours. He was relatively inexperienced when he travelled to Russia to face Kovalev, a defining early test, and later performed admirably before being overwhelmed by Beterbiev.
Once more, Yarde has shown he can compete but may fall short against the very best. Retirement might be considered, but viable options remain at light-heavyweight. A domestic showdown with Buatsi or another national contender like Callum Smith would still appeal to Yarde and his supporters.
