British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde’s third shot at a world title resulted in heartbreak once more after a scientific beat-down by WBC champion David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia.
After a gradual begin, American Benavidez seized management, sending 34-year-old Yarde to the canvas with a barrage within the seventh.
With blood streaming from Yarde’s nostril and smeared throughout the canvas, one other heavy flurry of punches with a minute left within the spherical pressured the referee to halt the competition.
“I caught in there. I am a fighter,” Yarde advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
“I felt prefer it was aggressive. I understand how he comes with good strain. I used to be boxing, boxing, considering center rounds, the canine rounds, we might trade.
“He has fast fingers, caught me first and hit me with a great shot on the nostril. Once I took a knee and he hit me once I was down, I used to be dizzy after that.”
Benavidez was deducted two factors for punches whereas Yarde was down, however the consequence was already inevitable.
The Londoner – having beforehand misplaced in world championship bouts to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022 – might now have to just accept the likelihood {that a} world title may elude him.
Benavidez, 28, stays unbeaten and extends his report to a formidable 25 knockouts in 31 wins.
After the battle, Benavidez – of Mexican heritage – revealed he plans to maneuver as much as cruiserweight to problem Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on 2 Might, aiming to turn out to be a three-weight world champion.
