David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) expresses his intention to inflict “harm” upon Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) in “each and every round,” aiming for a knockout as he defends his WBC light heavyweight title this Saturday, November 22nd, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Yarde holds contrasting views, asserting his superior power and vowing to secure a knockout victory of his own.
‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez enters this fight following his intense encounter with David Morrell, seeking to make a significant impact by defeating Yarde in their 12-round match, broadcast on DAZN PPV.
“I anticipate stepping into the ring and causing him pain in every single round. Should the opportunity arise for a stoppage or knockout, I will undoubtedly pursue it throughout the night,” David Benavidez conveyed to DAZN Boxing, outlining his strategy for the fight against Anthony Yarde this Saturday, November 22nd.
Benavidez appears poised to confront Yarde with a similar approach to his previous contest against David Morrell earlier this year on February 1st. He confronted the Cuban Morrell head-on, aiming to overwhelm him with a barrage of punches. While successful for Benavidez, this tactic exposed him to considerable punishment before ultimately securing a 12-round unanimous decision.
The extent of the toll taken on Benavidez during the Morrell fight remains uncertain. He sustained damage on two occasions during the bout and appeared visibly battered by its conclusion. Morrell even managed to knock him down in the 11th round. Benavidez benefited from Morrell’s inconsistent offensive output; had Morrell maintained a constant barrage of punches, the scenario of Benavidez fighting Yarde this Saturday might not be unfolding.
“This is my fighting style. I don’t bother wasting energy trying to win by points. Neither does this guy. We’re like two bulls locking horns. Neither one will back down. He won’t back down. I won’t back down. Boxing needs more fights like this to bring the fans back,” said Benavidez.
If Yarde can successfully deliver some potent blows early in the match, he stands a chance of achieving an upset against Benavidez. It will be crucial to act swiftly, as delaying too long could allow Benavidez to overwhelm him with sheer volume of punches and secure a knockout victory. Yarde, aged 34, has not faced an opponent of Benavidez’s caliber in terms of speed throughout his professional career.
While Artur Beterbiev undeniably possesses greater punching power, and Lyndon Arthur might also exhibit more strength, Benavidez’s superior speed will pose a significant challenge for Yarde
