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Anthony Yarde suffers third world title defeat in loss to David Benavidez
British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde's quest for a world championship ended in disappointment for the third time as WBC titleholder David Benavidez dominated their bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, forcing a seventh-round stoppage.
The 34-year-old Yarde, bloodied and overwhelmed by Benavidez's relentless aggression, was dropped in the seventh before the referee intervened with a minute remaining in the round. Despite moments of resistance, Yarde-who previously fell short against Sergey Kovalev (2019) and Artur Beterbiev (2022)-now faces questions about his future at boxing's highest level.
"I stuck in there. I'm a fighter," Yarde told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I felt like it was competitive. 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's dominance and next move
The 28-year-old American, now 31-0 with 25 knockouts, controlled the fight after a cautious opening. Benavidez, penalized two points for striking Yarde while down, never lost momentum. Post-fight, he announced plans to move up to cruiserweight for a May 2 clash with Gilberto Ramirez, targeting a third weight-class title.
"I want to become a three-division world champion," Benavidez declared, signaling his ambition beyond light-heavyweight.
Early exchanges and turning point
The bout began under the pre-dawn Saudi sky, with legendary announcer Michael Buffer introducing the fighters at 05:30 local time. Yarde, composed at the start, landed a sharp right in the fourth but struggled to match Benavidez's output. By the sixth, blood from Yarde's nose and a swelling under his right eye marked the champion's growing dominance.
"You're a warrior, you're a lion," Yarde's trainer Tunde Ajayi urged between rounds, but Benavidez's rapid combinations-switching stances effortlessly-proved decisive. A flurry of unanswered punches, capped by a left hook, prompted the stoppage.
Yarde's career crossroads
With no amateur background, Yarde's decade-long pro career has been defined by bold leaps into elite competition. Though he has fallen short in world-title bids, his performances against top-tier opponents like Kovalev and Beterbiev have earned respect. Domestic clashes-potentially against Joshua Buatsi or Callum Smith-could offer a path forward, though retirement whispers may grow louder.
What's next
Benavidez's cruiserweight debut against Ramirez headlines a May 2 card, while Yarde's team will weigh options after his fourth professional loss (27-4, 24 KOs).
