ANTHONY Yarde, one of the forgotten men of British boxing, makes a ring return on October 19 in the Copper Box Arena. The Hackney native was last seen beating up Marko Nikolic in the same venue in February. However, he has not faced a legitimate test since a spirited effort against Artur Beterbiev in January 2023.
Talk of a fight with Joshua Buatsi has floated around for months, but nothing has materialised so far. Now, Yarde returns on a Boxxer show, supporting the Adam Azim-Ohara Davies headliner. No opponent has yet been named for the 33-year-old light-heavyweight who holds a 25-3 (24 KOs) slate.
Much of Yarde’s idleness has stemmed from a desire to end a fruitful relationship with Frank Warren and try his luck elsewhere. With the likes of Buatsi, Craig Richards and Willy Hutchinson battling it out on Riyadh Season cards, it would appear that is where the action is.
Currently highly ranked by the WBO at 175, two of Yarde’s three losses came in good company, as he was halted by Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev. Lyndon Arthur inflicted a points defeat in 2020, which Yarde avenged by knockout a year later. The Copper Box has become somewhat of a spiritual home for Anthony, who has boxed there seven times previously as a professional.
Other boxers on the October 19 card include Michael McKinson, who fights for an IBO title, Dan Azeez, Jeamie Tshikeva in a good heavyweight domestic dust-up, Fran Hennessy and Shannon Courtenay.
