Thread: Liam Davies vs Ionut Baluta

Anthony Yarde will take on Stefani Koykov next weekend in a tune-up fight ahead of his rescheduled light-heavyweight title clash against Artur Beterbiev.

Yarde was set to face Beterbiev on October 29 at The O2 Arena as the mandatory challenger to his WBO crown.

But the Russian-Canadian pulled out with an undisclosed injury and that clash has been put on hold until early 2023.

‘Beast from the East’ Yarde has decided to be active before then and will take on 14 and one Bulgarian fighter Koykov on the undercard to Liam Davies vs Ionut Baluta in Telford.

Yarde has not fought since last December when he knocked out Lyndon Arthur in their much-anticipated rematch.

This 10-round light-heavyweight bout will take place on Saturday, November 19 and is being held at the Telford International Centre.

The action will start at 6pm on the night with Yarde vs Koykov expected at around 9pm before the main event of Davies vs Baluta.

The fight will be shown on BT Sport 1 from 7pm.

MAIN EVENT: Liam Davies vs Ionut Baluta
Anthony Yarde vs Stefani Koykov
Eithan James vs Connor Parker
Jamie Stewart vs Owen Cooper
Ezra Taylor vs Serhii Ksendzov
Macauley Owen vs Eduardo Valverde
Brad Strand vs Darwin Martinez
George Davey vs Paul Cummings
William Hayden vs Marian Marius Istrate
Raheem Muhammad vs Steven Maguire

Should Yarde come through this bout, he is set to face Beterbiev in a light heavyweight title clash in late January in London, promoter Frank Warren has said.

He said: “I am delighted to be getting Anthony Yarde out in a keep-busy fight ahead of his world title challenge in January.

“There is always the temptation to simply play the waiting game, but, with Artur Beterbiev not currently available due to injury, Anthony needs some time in the ring.”

https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1...tur-beterbiev/

Anthony Yarde: Briton's world title shot against Artur Beterbiev hinges on beating Stefani Koykov

Anthony Yarde will fight unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in 2023 if he can beat Bulgarian Stefani Koykov on Saturday in Telford.

The East Londoner was set to face Beterbiev before injury hit the WBC, IBF and WBO champion.

Yarde, 31, faces unheralded Koykov, who has an impressive knockout ratio, and knows he cannot afford a slip-up.

"I've got somebody in front of me that looks confident [and] hungry so I don't take no-one lightly," he said.

Koykov is 14-1 in his career with 12 knockouts, and although Yarde is expected to make short work of his opponent, he has not fought since December 2021 when he knocked out domestic rival Lyndon Arthur.

Koykov, 30, has fought his entire professional career in Germany and Yarde said he knows little of his opponent.

"This guy, there's no footage of him online," he said. "This could be someone else I'm fighting. That's my mentality.

"It could be anybody. Do I care? No, because I've got Beterbiev next."

Beterbiev beat American Joe Smith Jr in June to add the WBO title to his collection and is expected to be fit again in early 2023.

Yarde fought for a world title in 2019, but was stopped late by the then WBO champion Sergey Kovalev.

At the top of the card on Saturday evening is Telford's Liam Davies, who challenges for the vacant European super-bantamweight title on home turf.

He takes on Romanian Ionut Baluta, who called Davies "a child" in a fiery media conference on Thursday.

The card initially featured European welterweight champion David Avanesyan, but the Russian is now set to fight undefeated WBO champion Terence Crawford in Nebraska on 10 December.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/63668724

Anthony Yarde entering the ring now ready to face Koykov.

Hope he gets through and be ready to face Beterbiev.

Yarde starts fast, sharp and explosive in the first round. He is a quality boxer.

Yarde pummelling Koykov in the 2nd round this is not going the distance.

That was an impressive stoppage by Yarde against Koykov in the 3rd round. He looked relaxed and confident but Beterbiev will be a different level.

The fight with Beterbiev will happen in London for 28th January. Yarde does not duck the Russian champions.

Fran Warren has a son promoting. Great to see another Eddie.

Both fighters start fast but Davies straight punches picking off Baluta

Davies boxing well and very controlled. Baluta getting frustrated.

Baluta is game and determined but being outboxed by Davies with two rounds remaining.

Liam Davies wins European title with UD.