TURKI Alalshikh has confirmed his four-fight extravaganza for November 22, revealing David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde as the official main event.
The first clash to be loosely announced – a welterweight offering between WBO world champion Brian Norman Jr and Devin Haney – initially appeared as though it would headline the card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
But instead, boxing paymaster Alalshikh has elevated WBC world light-heavyweight champion Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), to the top-of-the-bill slot, with the big man making the first defence of his green and gold strap.
The 28-year-old was upgraded from interim to full WBC titlist earlier this year, back when it seemed that Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev’s trilogy showdown was nailed on for November.
Yet now, an element of uncertainty has suddenly latched itself onto their third matchup, putting 175lb king Bivol in a situation where his belts could soon become fragmented.
In any case, Yarde, 27-3 (24 KOs), will look to pull off a sizable upset in his third stab at world honours, hoping that a second victory over Lyndon Arthur has afforded him enough momentum to do so.
Elsewhere on the Ring IV card, WBC world super-flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez is set to collide with Fernando Martinez, his WBA counterpart, in a mouth-watering unification.
But before entering that assignment later this year, ‘Bam’ must first take care of business against WBO champion Phumelela Cafu – who is no slouch, either – on July 19.
Then finally, along with Norman vs Haney, the Saudi boxing event will see leading contenders Sam Noakes and Abdullah Mason square off for the vacant WBO world lightweight strap.
