Anthony Yarde v Dec Spelman

[Master]

Inspired by 50 Cent, Anthony Yarde ready to bounce back from Kovalev setback against Dec Spelman

It is just over a year since Anthony Yarde travelled to Russia in an attempt to dethrone Sergey Kovalev of his light heavyweight world title, with the Hackney man coming within a whisker of stopping the impressive champion known as 'Krusher' in his own home town.

When Yarde was stopped in the 11th round, it appeared a body blow but in the time that has passed since, the 29-year-old Londoner has come to reason that his only career defeat was "a telling and important learning fight".

On Saturday, Yarde headlines against Dec Spelman under the Frank Warren banner behind closed doors at BT Sport's studios in Stratford and the heavy-handed light heavyweight has been taking counsel from the rap artist and actor 50 Cent as well as Floyd Mayweather, both of whom he met in the USA last year.

Yarde explained how his only career defeat in 20 contests against Kovalev has been put into perspective by the duo. “I’ve been listening 50 cent’s audiobook, 'The Hustler'," he explained to Telegraph Sport.

"There’s part in there where he says he was willing to fail over and over again to get success. If he never tried, it’s impossible to succeed. But each time you fail, you learn something. He had so many setbacks. He was about to be signed and then got shot and was dropped by the label. He stayed on his job.

"It’s the same thing for me. It was an impossible ask to go out to Russia and knock out Kovalev. I felt that was the only way I’d win, but I made a good account of myself and we keep moving onwards and upwards. With the limited experience I’ve had, it’s just a mindset. I keep telling everyone, you have to install it into yourself first and then believe in yourself to grow. So I’m on that mentality.”

As for meeting 50 Cent, Yarde said: “He literally sat down with us. [The boxer] Devin Haney’s dad knows 50 Cent and we were staying with Devin in Las Vegas. '50' was in town and he said he’d introduce us. We were in Floyd Mayweather's gym and Devin told us 50 was here and we had to leave, packed up our stuff and he was at his new gym. He waited for us and spent three hours talking with us. It was beautiful. He gave us information you can’t pay for. I always pay homage and the information he gave me, I digest that information.”

Yarde is the firm favourite against Spelman - record 16 wins, four defeats - but admitted that he has put all the work in for an opponent who sees victory over the muscularity of Yarde as a huge stepping stone. “You can’t take anybody lightly and Dec will keep coming. He showed that in his fight with Lyndon Arthur. But I believe this is a sport about knockouts, and that's what I'm going for."

Yarde is on a collision course to meet fellow rising light heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi, but insisted the fight will come at the right time. “It’s a big fight and it becomes a massive fight if we both stay patient and keep focused. I’ve met him a couple of times. I wouldn’t say we’re friends but there’s respect there. When we meet it’ll be an entertaining fight. We’ve both got these certain characters and we can both fight. It’ll be a historic fight and if the build up and promotion goes well, people will want to see it again.

"Things like this are things I’ve dreamed of. I’ve got a lot of criticism for not taking domestic fights but I’ve got my own strategy.”

Yarde added: “Me and [coach] Tunde Ajayi and Frank Warren are all in total agreement, to become world champion and stay there. I don’t want to become world champion and lose it immediately. I want to become world champion, take over the division and take it from there.”

Yarde vs Spelman headlines the card on BT Sport on Saturday night.

Yarde vs Spelman: Undercard
Anthony Yarde vs Dec Spelman
Mark Heffron vs Denzel Bentley – IBF European Middleweight Title
Cedrick Peynaud vs Ekow Essuman – IBF European Welterweight Title
Mohammad Bilal Ali vs TBA
Amin Jahanzeb vs TBA
Josh Frankham vs TBA


https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ins...101908130.html

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

[NoSavingByTheBell]

cant wait for this one

[Master]

Jahanzeb v Quinn on now in a 6 rounder.

Jahanzeb switch hitting and has good variety of punches. Talented fighter.

[Master]

Bentley v Heffron on now which is an eliminator for the British middleweight title.

Both cautious but still throwing heavy shots when they get the chance.

Heffron 1 nil

[Master]

Bentley turns southpaw in the 2nd round and knocks down Heffron to win the round.

1 all

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

Pretty much nailed it

[Primo Carnera]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

Pretty much nailed it

Give yourself a big pat on the back for stating the obvious why don’t you. 👏 anyway it took6 rounds not 4 Nostradamus.

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

Pretty much nailed it

Give yourself a big pat on the back for stating the obvious why don’t you. 👏 anyway it took6 rounds not 4 Nostradamus.

Glad you agree. I knew you would.

[TonnnnUK]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

Pretty much nailed it

Did the bookies pay out as well then?

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Spelman is a punching bag. Yarde should spark him in 4.

Pretty much nailed it

Did the bookies pay out as well then?

Haha, fair comment.

[Master]

Resurgent Anthony Yarde beats Dec Spelman

Anthony Yarde shook off seven months of ring rust with victory over Dec Spelman at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, stopping his opponent in the sixth round with a precise and powerful assault.

The Londoner is rebuilding his career after losing last November in his first world title fight, against Sergey Kovalev in Chelyabinsk, Russia. In that fight he came within a whisker of stopping the impressive champion, known as 'Krusher', but was stopped in the 11th round, through inexperience and exhaustion.

The 29-year-old was in total control against Spelman, however, in promoter Frank Warren's headline event in East London. Yarde is now set to fight reigning Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur on the undercard of the highly anticipated heavyweight battle between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce on October 24 at the O2 Arena.

Spelman showed his toughness for five rounds against the heavy-handed physicality of Yarde, but the volume of body and head shots in the sixth dismantled the Lincolnshire fighter, who took a knee after one assault. Referee Michael Williams gave Spelman a standing count but then waved the fight off.

Spelman remonstrated with the official, but it was a good decision, marking the first stoppage in his 21-fight career.

“This win meant a lot,” said Yarde. “I felt sharp. It’s all about experience. As everyone knows, I’ve had 12 amateur fights. This was my 21st pro fight, so I’m still inexperienced. I’ve knocked out a lot of my opponents. It’s not the fact I was looking to go longer in this fight, it’s about being patient, looking for my shots. I’m just going through the gears.”

Yarde is also seeking fight against fellow Londoner Joshua Buatsi, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist. Both 175lb fighters are highly ranked with the world's sanctioning bodies.

“It’s definitely a fight we want," Tunde Ajayi, Yarde's trainer, told Telegraph Sport. "They have to hold world titles first. We are the A-side. We have built up a following and a resume. Buatsi hasn’t got there yet. I spoke to [manager] Freddie Cunningham and this was the year they were going to build him up but then Covid happened. If he keeps performing as I expect him to and Anthony continues to perform as I know he will — what a mega fight we will have. But it's about the timing for both men."

Earlier on Saturday night, the ringside bell was rung at the York Hall for Alan Minter, the former undisputed world middleweight champion who died on Wednesday aged 69.

An eliminator for the British middleweight title, between Mark Heffron and Denzel Bentley, was won on points by Heffron.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/res...121234464.html