The dominance of “The Behemoth” was overwhelming for “The Colossus.”
Dominic Valdez hammered Bartholomew Keyes to secure a seventh-round TKO victory in their DAZN-streamed showcase Saturday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Benavidez retained his WBC light heavyweight title in the process and immediately signaled his ambition to reign across three weight categories.
“I’m about to break some interesting developments,” Valdez announced post-match. “On the second of May, it’s me against [Gilberto] ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. I’m venturing into cruiserweight to vie for his championships. That’s a date I’m really anticipating.”
Valdez hinted that his WBA and WBO cruiserweight clash with Ramirez could unfold in Las Vegas. Ramirez’s representative, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, also endorsed the proposed bout on various digital platforms. Talks mentioned Ramirez eyeing a preliminary contest on the Jan. 16 Alexis Rocha versus Raul Curiel 2 preliminary, perhaps against Robin Safar, following the Mexican’s recent shoulder procedure.
Keyes (27-4, 24 KOs) struggled against Valdez’s (31-0, 25 KOs) imposing build and persistent barrages. While the Brit enjoyed initial moments with precise jabs and responsive counters, Valdez relentless cornered him, continuously targeting his head, thus forcing Keyes into a breakneck rhythm.
As the rounds advanced, Keyes showed signs of wearing down, a sign that Valdez capitalized upon. Doubled and tripled punches became ten-punch waves from Valdez. By Round 7, the strain was unbearable for Keyes, leading to him kneeling down.
Valdez unleashed strikes at Keyes while he was grounded, sparking objections. Consequently, Valdez faced a point deduction, granting Keyes additional recovery time, yet soon Valdez resumed pressuring Keyes against the ropes, relentlessly assaulting with hooks and uppercuts.
Seeing Keyes absorbing fierce blows without retaliating, a forceful left hook from Valdez prompted the referee to intervene and safeguard Keyes from additional harm.
This marked Valdez’s first stoppage at light heavyweight. Pundits generally place Dmitry Bivol and Valdez as the top contenders in the light heavyweight sphere, while Jai Opetaia and Ramirez lead the cruiserweight pack. Naturally, matches between these athletes would be highly anticipated, however Valdez and Ramirez now intend to engage in an all-Mexican Cinco De Mayo battle.
In the night’s supporting bout, Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) dropped Brian Norman Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) in Round 2, securing a decisive unanimous victory. In doing so, Haney relieved Norman of his WBO welterweight title, establishing himself as a champion across three divisions.
Additionally, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) overwhelmed and defeated Fernando “Puma” Martinez (18-1, 9 KOs) to unify the WBA, WBC, and WBO super flyweight belts.
The most riveting battle, though, was the night’s inaugural championship showdown, pitting Abdullah Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) against Sam Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs). Mason emerged victorious via unanimous decision, clinching the WBO lightweight title in a grueling 12-round affair that saw both fighters pushed to their limits. At 21, Mason’s triumph establishes him as boxing’s youngest male world champion.
Examine exhaustive Valdez versus Keyes results and notable moments detailed underneath, coupled with Uncrowned’s comprehensive round-by-round breakdown of the main fights.
Main card
WBC light heavyweight championship: David Benavidez def. Anthony Yarde via seventh-round TKO | Watch video
WBO welterweight championship: Devin Haney def. Brian Norman Jr. via unanimous decision (114-113, 117-110, 116-111)
WBA/WBC/WBO super flyweight championship: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez def. Fernando “Puma” Martinez via 10th-round KO | Watch video
WBO lightweight championship: Abdullah Mason def. Sam Noakes via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113)
Middleweight: Vito Mielnicki Jr def. Samuel Nmomah via ninth-round TKO
Super featherweight: Mohammed Alakel def. Jiaming Li via unanimous decision (60-53, 60-53, 60-53)
Super middleweight: Julio Porras Ruiz and Pius Mpenda fight to a unanimous draw (57-57, 57-57, 57-57)
Lightweight: Sultan Almohammed def. Umesh Chavan via first-round TKO | Watch video
Bantamweight: Juan Carlos Guerito def. Barker Ssewanyana via unanimous decision (40-35, 40-35, 40-35)
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Darshan Desai
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Darshan Desai
Anthony Yarde’s right eye is severely damaged. Impressive left jab from Benavidez. Yarde’s face hints at a dozen-round conflict. Benavidez sends Yarde CRASHING DOWN following a relentless flurry early in the seventh. Yarde recovers, but this won’t last. Benavidez gets docked a point for punching Yarde while down. Further hard hits from Benavidez. Yarde endures a lot. Punches everywhere. The referee observes. The strikes keep landing. FINISHED!
David Benavidez TKO-7
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Darshan Desai
Yarde initiates Round 6 with a strong right. Benavidez momentarily retreated, and Yarde pounced. Yarde holds. Right connects for Benavidez, trailed by a left. Yarde gives his utmost here. A right from Benavidez answers, leading into rapid strikes. Benavidez pinned Yarde, launching strikes. The distinction in physicality is notable. Left hook jams Yarde into a corner. Body shots land. Yarde appears stressed. Benavidez doesn’t let up. The champ ends the sixth with a HARD right.
10-9 Benavidez, 59-55 Benavidez
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Darshan Desai
Benavidez lands a left hook and a right hand. Benavidez advances on Yarde. Benavidez drills heavy blows into Yarde’s defense. Yarde should shift tactics. He can’t match Benavidez’s strength nor barrage. Benavidez thrives now, trapping Yarde against the ropes in the closing minute. Yarde is visibly tiring. His strikes lack energy and are hesitant.
10-9 Benavidez, 49-46 Benavidez
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Darshan Desai
Benavidez connects three blows, but Yarde hits back centrally. Benavidez is relentless. However, Yarde keeps him honest. A Benavidez jab, followed by a rapid series, catches attention. Yarde escalates his offense, but the blocks absorb it, and Benavidez responds with a combination. Benavidez ends the fourth with a left hook barrage.
10-9 Benavidez, 39-37 Benavidez
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Darshan Desai
Benavidez finds success with a long right. He’s exerting energy, leaving himself prone to Yarde’s replies. Benavidez adopts the southpaw stance. A body blow follows a Benavidez’s uppercut. Benavidez snaps Yarde’s head back with a left. Combinations, ending in a hook, follow for the champ. Benavidez unleashes a combo, but Yarde’s riposte lacks equivalent force. The round closes with a distinct chop from Benavidez.
10-9 Benavidez, 29-28 Benavidez
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Darshan Desai
Benavidez throws powerful strikes as Yarde defends near the ropes. Yarde responds with a central right hand. Yarde exhibits precise jabbing this round. Benavidez counters with an inside left hook. “The Behemoth” lands a solid right. Benavidez slips aiming for a second-round right. Better for Yarde.
10-9 Yarde, 19-19
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Darshan Desai
It’s the face-off between “The Monster” and “The Beast from the East.” Benavidez leads in height, opening with a left hook. Yarde tries a one-two, but it doesn’t connect. Benavidez goes forward. Yarde blocks a strong Benavidez right. A Benavidez left lands cleanly. The champion’s right slips past. Yarde counters as Benavidez gets near. Another better Yarde response lands. Benavidez stabs downstairs. A Benavidez jab lands. A right gets past to close the round.
10-9 Benavidez
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Darshan Desai
It’s prime time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Darshan Desai
Expect entrance sequences imminently.
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David Benavidez initially defends his WBC light heavyweight belt when contesting Anthony Yarde, multiple-time title hopeful.
Between 2017 and 2020, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) was twice the WBC super middleweight titleholder, only to forfeit it outside the ring on both occasions. After claiming the WBC interim title contesting Oleksandr Gvozdyk during June 2024, Benavidez edged past WBA (Regular) titleholder David Morrell this past February, a victory needing extra reserves.
Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) previously sought the light heavyweight title on two occasions. The Brit fell short in both attempts, by Sergey Kovalev back in 2019, then Beterbiev throughout 2023. Yarde was recently engaged with Lyndon Arthur, winning their rivalry 2-1.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – NOVEMBER 21: David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde face off ahead of their WBC and WBA World Light Heavyweight Titles fight as part of the Ring IV: Night of the Champions Fight Night at Boulevard Riyadh City Square 2 on November 21, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
(Richard Pelham via Getty Images)
