Round-by-Round: Anthony Yarde vs. Travis Reeves - 8 March 2019

[Twinkle Toes]

Heffron was the favourite when he boxed Williams.

That was true, but Heffron was never in it. I mean 50/50 as in the actual fight itself. Can Williams rise up in the championship rounds or will he falter again when under that sort of pressure.

I ain't reading too much into the Heffron fight. hefron didn't turn up at all. Favourite or not.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Heffron was the favourite when he boxed Williams.

That was true, but Heffron was never in it. I mean 50/50 as in the actual fight itself. Can Williams rise up in the championship rounds or will he falter again when under that sort of pressure.

I ain't reading too much into the Heffron fight. hefron didn't turn up at all. Favourite or not.

He was mostly favourite due to the pre-fight and the fact that he was a rising prospect etc.

[DrDuke]

Yarde had another dominant performance over a stiff. The stoppage was a bit early, despite the fact, that nothing seemed to change in this fight in the case of its continuation. Yarde needs to step up in the opposition level already.

[Rob3_142]

Dubois vs Gorman fight tomorrow and they've both had a good camp....

Who wins ?

Dubois.

I like Gorman, and think he's a very good boxer, but I don't think he will be able to handle the physical presence of Dubois. He'd have to box a very clever and tactically astute fight. His best bet is to frustrate Dubois, as Kingpin did, and try nick rounds.

[Rob3_142]

Yeah Cojanu no test. On to the next!

KO2 vs Cojanu is the same as Ruiz and Oritz and better than Parker and Gorman.

I know it's not always that simple, but it's a good result.

Cojanu is not relevant to the division. He literally was thrust into the limelight after Hughie pulled out of the Parker fight, and they needed a last minute stand in. He might be able to frustrate someone who doesn't have any pop, but that is about it.

The UD win against Kingpin was better than the KO win against Cojanu.

[DrDuke]

Dubois vs Gorman fight tomorrow and they've both had a good camp....

Who wins ?

Dubois.

I like Gorman, and think he's a very good boxer, but I don't think he will be able to handle the physical presence of Dubois. He'd have to box a very clever and tactically astute fight. His best bet is to frustrate Dubois, as Kingpin did, and try nick rounds.

I agree. Gorman is decent, but he doesn't seem to have tools to deal with Dubois' power and aggression. Although we don't know, how good his chin is. If he is able to take Dubois' bombs well, he'll have chances to outfight him.

[Rob3_142]

I think Yarde could do with at least 3 more before Kovalev. If I was controlling his career and his #1 ranking wasn't an issue I'd go:

Summer 2019: Isaac Chilemba - Could well be a stinker but Chilemba is as close to guaranteed rounds as you're going to get. Yarde goes 12 for the first time against an awkward opponent. If he stops him its a statement. If not, then neither did Alvarez, Kovalev, Bivol etc.

Late 2019: Jean Pascal - Very tough customer. More chance to look good than against Chilemba. Well past prime but name recognition. Yarde could force a stoppage against a former champ.

Early 2020: Sullivan Barrera - Skilled operator. If you're not world class he will dominate you (Shabranskyy, Smith Jr, Valera, Monaghan). If you are world class he's beatable (Ward, Bivol).


If he didn't look devastating against those 3 and his momentum had slowed, then feed him someone like Seanie Monaghan to knock over in the States before a title shot towards the end of next year.

As it stands though these pointless WBO ranking fights he's been having will probably mean he fights Kovalev before having an genuine tests. Therefore 1 of 2 things happens. Either he beats Kovalev and has a load of shite defences while we're told "remember he's still learning!" or Kovalev batters him.

I like this assessment.

I don't think it is too unfair to give Yarde a bit of respite, but he is 27 now and will be hitting his prime in the next 24 months. He is out fairly regularly (about every 4 months), but I would like to see some progression in his opponents. His last 6-7 opponents have all been pretty same-ish, and I don't know what we're supposed to be learning about him.

Before he inevitably fights Kovalev, I think he would benefit from a fight against a top 15 fighter. That being said, if they fought tomorrow, I think Yarde wins. Kovalev is beyond his best, and Yarde does have good attributes in the locker. I just want to see him troubled by a better fighter.

[tobyh5]

What the eff makes Reeves in the slightest bit credible?

So I have been busy doing a shite-ton of studying, 4 hours per day on top of work and family and so not kept an eye on hardly any boxing. Gone from 6 podcasts per week and all IFL, Boxing Social vids to zero, so just catching up.

Reeves is garbage and Yarde's career is still not taking off with any credence. I do not care how he looks against the guys he is fighting, always has to be evaluated as quality of opposition.

I am telling ya all, there is always a reason a team avoids challenges. I remember writing on Doghouse that there was a reason that a common theme between all of Amir Khan's early opponents was lack of pop in their punches

[Coco]

What the eff makes Reeves in the slightest bit credible?

So I have been busy doing a shite-ton of studying, 4 hours per day on top of work and family and so not kept an eye on hardly any boxing. Gone from 6 podcasts per week and all IFL, Boxing Social vids to zero, so just catching up.

Reeves is garbage and Yarde's career is still not taking off with any credence. I do not care how he looks against the guys he is fighting, always has to be evaluated as quality of opposition.

I am telling ya all, there is always a reason a team avoids challenges. I remember writing on Doghouse that there was a reason that a common theme between all of Amir Khan's early opponents was lack of pop in their punches

Still a step up though, for me Yardes careful matching says so,etching about the confidence FW has in him. The avoidance of domestic matching suggests to me they will continue like this to get a high ranking, and then cash out

[stujones]

How is Yarde making light heavy I don't know...those two were allegedly the same weight at weigh in.

Don't like Yarde build, but so far he's proven me wrong and looks quick and a boxer.

I don't know why I've always wanted to see Williams vs Jenkins as a catch weight....but Williams is too big now.

[Coco]

While they are saying Williams is ready to take any opportunity that comes at 11st, he does look really strong and seems to have filled out a bit at 6lbs up.
Perhaps middle suits him better.
He is obvs better than domestic level, and his past 2 challengers have been sub title level but the Welshman has been devastating.

[oogiebe]

What's with Yarde's flatfooted approach? His performance wasn't where I had hoped.

[Ruthless-RKO]

What's with Yarde's flatfooted approach? His performance wasn't where I had hoped.

BT and FW hype Yarde’s fights as if he’s been a world champion for years and making his 10th world title defence.

[oogiebe]

What's with Yarde's flatfooted approach? His performance wasn't where I had hoped.

BT and FW hype Yarde’s fights as if he’s been a world champion for years and making his 10th world title defence.

His development wasn't what it should have been. Seems talented, but he's going nowhere.

[dr_devious]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

[kbackup408]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

Which he isn't his last performance was very good, I rate Alvarez very highly lost a few quid that night but thats boxing for ya!

[oogiebe]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

Which he isn't his last performance was very good, I rate Alvarez very highly lost a few quid that night but thats boxing for ya!

Agreed. Yarde isn't close to Kov's level. Maybe he never will be.

[kbackup408]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

Which he isn't his last performance was very good, I rate Alvarez very highly lost a few quid that night but thats boxing for ya!

Agreed. Yarde isn't close to Kov's level. Maybe he never will be.

It is a strange situation we (boxing nuts with sense) know he needs to step up but his trainer keeps on rambling on about timing blah blah, frustrating!

[oogiebe]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

Which he isn't his last performance was very good, I rate Alvarez very highly lost a few quid that night but thats boxing for ya!

Agreed. Yarde isn't close to Kov's level. Maybe he never will be.

It is a strange situation we (boxing nuts with sense) know he needs to step up but his trainer keeps on rambling on about timing blah blah, frustrating!

He's being mishandled IMHO. He seems to have the goods, just doesn't seem to be schooled proper. Really a shame.

[Rob3_142]

What the eff makes Reeves in the slightest bit credible?

So I have been busy doing a shite-ton of studying, 4 hours per day on top of work and family and so not kept an eye on hardly any boxing. Gone from 6 podcasts per week and all IFL, Boxing Social vids to zero, so just catching up.

Reeves is garbage and Yarde's career is still not taking off with any credence. I do not care how he looks against the guys he is fighting, always has to be evaluated as quality of opposition.

I am telling ya all, there is always a reason a team avoids challenges. I remember writing on Doghouse that there was a reason that a common theme between all of Amir Khan's early opponents was lack of pop in their punches

Still a step up though, for me Yardes careful matching says so,etching about the confidence FW has in him. The avoidance of domestic matching suggests to me they will continue like this to get a high ranking, and then cash out

But he's not though.

Reeves has as much credibility as Sequeira, Sek or Sjekloca.

[Rob3_142]

Yarde has done nothing in his career to suggest would beat Kovalev, Kov would have to be completely shot to lose against him.

He may well have done nothing so far, because the level of opposition has been limited, but Kovalev is 35 now, and shown deficiencies since the second Ward fight, which weren't there before.

I'm not saying that Yarde is heavy favourite, but he's certainly got a lot of things on his side, and I see him coming through.

[jamamb]

i mean kov just dominated a top 5 lhw, hes still very good, hard to say how yarde will react to a live body whose a sharp puncher with power. we cant say anything much about what his heart or chin are yet

[Rob3_142]

I just really want to see him against a top 10-15 fighter. I want to actually learn something about him.

[Coco]

He hasn't done enough to say he would win a British or Commonwealth title, let alone European or world. And people are rating his chances at elite level? People make me laugh.

[Oiky]

Far far too early to tell about yarde

Think he likely has a real hard time of it against a live body,likely gets beaten