David Benavidez ended Anthony Yarde’s third world-title bid with a late stoppage, flooring the British light-heavyweight and forcing the referee to halt the contest in the seventh round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After a tentative opening, Benavidez established control and, midway through the seventh, unleashed a heavy barrage that sent 34-year-old Yarde to the canvas. Blood poured from Yarde’s nose and stained the canvas; with roughly a minute remaining another flurry prompted the referee to stop the fight. Benavidez was docked two points for punches that landed while Yarde was down, but the momentum and damage had already made the outcome clear.
“I stuck in there. I’m a fighter,” Yarde told BBC Radio 5 Live after the fight. “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, 28, preserved his unbeaten record, improving to 31 wins with 25 stoppages, and immediately suggested he will move up to cruiserweight to challenge
