Promoter Frank Warren thinks that Anthony Yarde really can ‘do a job’ when he fights Artur Beterbiev later this year.
While no event has been confirmed, both Beterbiev’s promoter, Bob Arum, and Warren think that a fight can be made for the British WBO mandatory challenger.
The winner of that fight - with 37-year-old veteran Beterbiev the heavy favourite - would then be likely to meet Dmitry Bivol in 2023, dependent perhaps on any rematch between Bivol and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Beterbiev now holds the WBC, WBO and IBF belts after defeating Joe Smith Jr. last weekend for the WBO strap at 175lbs.
Warren wrote for BoxingScene.com that an “agreement having been reached before Beterbiev even laid a glove on Joe Smith jr in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“Anthony holds the No.1 spot with the WBO and would be called as mandatory in any case so, along with Bob Arum of Top Rank, we put our plans into action and have booked the 02 Arena for what will be a mighty collision between two huge punching light heavies.”
Warren continued: “Some people might think I am losing my marbles, but I believe Anthony can do a job on Beterbiev. I really do. Yes, he is a big puncher, but then so is Anthony and Callum [Smith] has shown before that Beterbiev can be rocked.
“I wouldn’t be so blunt as to say Anthony just needs to stick it on him, but he will need to be at it right from the first bell and set the tempo for the fight. I honestly believe that if Anthony had applied himself in a more typical fashion against Sergey Kovalev he would have been a world champion already.
“He will need to let Beterbiev know he is in a fight from the off and box smartly and aggressively. He will have a partisan crowd roaring him in London on and he will need to make his capital gain count.
“I have long believed that Anthony is world champion material. Yes, he has got it wrong a couple of times and looked a shadow of his normal self, but he is a fearsome competitor and more than a match for anyone in the division.”