Nick Peet: Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde preview

London will find itself engaged in a modern-day Blitz on Saturday night when two of the biggest punchers in world boxing start dropping bombs at Wembley Arena.

Light-heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev matches his 100% knockout record up against Anthony Yarde’s 96% KO ratio in a fight that is fated to end long before the scheduled 12 rounds.

The champion arrives in the UK capital armed with a menacing 18-0 (18 KO) record that’s taken him to the very top of the 175lb division, amassing three of the four world titles on route.

The challenger has won on the scorecards once, in his second pro fight, but stopped all 21 of his defeated foes since.

Make no mistake, this matchup will be a firefight from the opening exchanges.

Beterbiev is the most lethal finisher in all of boxing yet despite his undeniable stats the champion remains criminally undervalued by boxing fans and media.

The former Russian amateur star – well over 100 amateur bouts – he won gold at the 2009 World Championships and suffered a rare defeat to eventual gold medallist Oleksander Usyk at the London 2012 Olympics.

A move to Canada saw him turn pro the following year and, in his 12th paid contest, Beterbiev collected the first of his world titles. Six consecutive title fights and two additional belts have followed.

Yarde on the other hand was only ever a novice amateur experiencing just a handful of fights. He turned pro two years after Beterbiev in 2015 and has done all of his learning inside a paid ring.

No tables in sight 👀

Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde come face-to-face once more 🥊#BeterbievYarde | Saturday | BT Sport pic.twitter.com/7jTzZOQg7l

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) January 26, 2023

After racing to 18-0 in just four years, Yarde travelled to Russia in 2019 to challenge Sergey Kovalev for a version of the 175lb world title. And whilst he had the veteran champion stumbling in round 8, he failed to find the finishing blow and suffered his first defeat.

Yarde also lost a split decision to domestic rival Lyndon Arthur in 2020, but the 31-year-old avenged that defeat 12 months later with an emphatic fourth round knockout. He’s now 23-2 (22 KOs).

The gameplan for Yarde this weekend is high risk high reward. He has to meet fire with fire.

He has to let his hands go and have conviction that his chin and engine are capable of setting a pace unbefitting the 38-year-old champion.

Beterbiev knows he is coming to the end of his boxing lifespan. He’s averaged just one fight per year since becoming champion, which suggests self-preservation. But he’s not shown any signs of slowing down – yet!

Yarde must gamble Father Time is in his corner and make this a six-round shootout.

Failing to capitalise when he had Kovalev rocking in Russia and losing on points attempting to outbox Arthur should be lessons enough to appreciate he can’t be too patient against a boxer-puncher as talented as Beterbiev.

‘Roll the dice. Release the bombs and test your chin against his.’

Beterbiev has been dropped, by the UK’s Callum Johnson no less. But he was fresh enough to bounce back that night. Yarde must ask the question early, has Beterbiev has still got it in his legs to do the same five years later?

Should Yarde pull this off it will be one of the biggest upsets by a British fighter in a world title matchup. But the Londoner is honest enough to know he has one route to victory and that means a blockbuster finish is guaranteed either way.

TIP: Beterbiev TKO Rounds 4-6