ANTHONY YARDE still hopes it’s third time lucky after two world title losses to Russian pound-for-pound stars made him love boxing even more.
The 31-year-old light-heavyweight lasted 11 rounds against Sergey Kovalev in the Soviet outpost of Chelyabinsk in 2019 before he was floored by jet-lag, inexperience and exhaustion.
AP:Associated PressAnthony Yarde is hoping it’s third-time lucky against Russian opposition[/caption]
AP:Associated PressYarde has lost fights to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev[/caption]
After a solid rebuild, he welcomed terrifying KO king Artur Beterbiev to Wembley in January and enjoyed some moments before the WBC, IBF and WBO champ made him his 19th consecutive stoppage in round eight.
Even with two impressive performances at the elite level, the agony of those punishing defeats might have been enough to break a weaker man.
But the Frank Warren-promoted Hackney Lion is already planning a summer comeback on BT Sport.
Yarde said: “They were at different stages of my career and I am 31 now so I am getting older and wiser.
“I was heartbroken after the losses but this sport and career is a journey. I haven’t been unlucky, it’s just how the wheel spins.
“The two world champions I have fought just happened to be the two most monstrous Russian punchers of their time.
“But I love it, I love the challenges, I love the big occasions, I just love it.”
Yarde’s love of catchphrases, tippy-tappy padwork and supposed aversion to hard sparring had doubters questioning his heart going into the Beterbiev battle in January this year.
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But he absorbed huge shots, slung dozens back and only stopped when his clever and compassionate coach Tunde Ajaye threw in the towel.
There are no more question marks over Yarde’s heart or heavy hands but he has only watched the sensational showdown back once and will revisit it before his return.
He said: “I need to watch it again. I never want to overwhelm myself with anything.
“After a fight like that, I just want to relax. I watched it back once, not immediately, because I wanted to view it with a clear head . . . and I thought, ‘What a fight!’”
The Beast from the East has one of the most impressive physiques in British boxing — despite a self-confessed love of junk food.
But he admits to treating himself to one cheeky cocktail on his recent Dominican Republic break that left the dedicated athlete seeing stars.
Yarde grinned: “I had a two-week break, fantastic sunshine, eating right on the beach and mocktails.
“I did have one cocktail and then I was loose for the whole day. Those tropical vibes are a bit of me.”
The 12½st division is one of the most competitive in Britain with Yarde joined by stars including Callum Smith, Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez and Craig Richards.
Yet the Eastender refuses to get dragged into the painfully frustrating negotiations that go on behind the scenes when trying to make these domestic dust-ups.
He said: “I’ll be back in the ring ASAP. But I don’t really get involved in talks about who I’m fighting, where and when.
“I don’t really care, I just want to be told my date because I have shown now that I will fight anyone, anywhere.”