The star ratings indicate how well the writer believes the fighters match up, the fight(s)’ contextual significance, and how good the fight(s) will be
MAIN EVENT
UNDERCARD
THE Artur Beterbiev-shaped mountain that Anthony Yarde stands beneath is substantial. On rare occasion we have seen similar-sized peaks scaled, but the sheer height of the climb, particularly for the uninitiated, usually proves too much. Such would appear the case this weekend when Yarde, 23-2 (22), challenges the fearsome world light-heavyweight champion inside the OVO Arena in Wembley, North London.
One only has to look at their respective CVs and the case for the upset is already fanciful, even before studying their respective form and styles. Beterbiev has been boxing since he was a youngster and were it not for Oleksandr Usyk, it’s likely that the Russian-Canadian would have added to an already impressive medal haul that included winning World Championship gold in 2009, a silver in 2007, and two European Championship golds in 2006 and 2010. In his last two major amateur championships, he lost close decisions to Usyk, in the 2011 Worlds and the Olympics a year later.
As a professional, Beterbiev has taken that pedigree and ran with it. Not one
