Warren: It's More Or Less Agreed That Yarde Will Fight Beterbiev
Promoter Frank W of Queensberry Promotions, who promotes Anthony Yarde, expects his boxer to face unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in the fall.
Yarde is the mandatory challenger under the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
On Saturday night at the Hulu Theater in New York City, Beterbiev unified the WBO, IBF, WBC world titles at 175-pounds when he knocked out Joe Smith in two rounds. Smith was down three times before the fight was waved off.
Yarde was ringside to scout both boxers.
Warren has a close relationship with Beterbiev's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank. Warren and Arum co-promote WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
The British expects Yarde to get his crack at Beterbiev on a date in October in the UK.
"It's more or less agreed, we're looking to fight [Beterbiev] in October in London. Bob and I have agreed we'll do the fight, but they're going to be ordered [to fight Yarde] anyway. It will be a great fight," Warren told BBC Sport.
Arum had previously mentioned that the Beterbiev-Yarde showdown would likely take place in the UK.
Yarde tried to capture the WBO crown back in 2019, when he traveled to Russia to challenge then champion Sergey Kovalev. The British punch came close to capturing gold, as he badly hurt Kovalev and had him ready to go. But he punched himself out while attempting to knock Kovalev out. Kovalev was able to recover and stopped Yarde in the eleventh round.
Yarde was in action back in December, when he avenged a decision loss by knocking out Lyndon Arthur in four rounds of action.
