Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde | BT Sport - 28 January 2023

[Black Sam Bellamy]

Undercard is average. I've no interest in traipsing into London to watch prized ex-amateurs 40-36 a journeyman. Half the card is prospects against journeymen with losing records. I thought the Friday night prospect shows at York Hall were for that ?

For the cheapest £65 tickets there's a £6.50 service charge, a £2.75 facilities charge and a £2.99 delivery fee. Throw in £7 a pint and it just becomes one to watch at home.

Make me want to buy a ticket or I just won't.

[Manchester Hitman]

I got an email last night about tickets for this. It really hasnt sold well at all. Why is London such a hard sell? Most of the people who flock in for the big 'casual' shows are from outside the capital.

I think when xmas is out of the way, people will feel more comfortable about parting with their money for the tickets. I mean there’s still 5 weeks to go and I expect BT etc will be doing a lot of marketing from January. I would be surprised if it isn’t full by fight night - it’s only a 12k arena.

I looked at the website and to me I couldn’t see that many available to buy. I assumed that’s because a lot of them were given out to the undercard fighters to sell.

[mickey1975]

I got an email last night about tickets for this. It really hasnt sold well at all. Why is London such a hard sell? Most of the people who flock in for the big 'casual' shows are from outside the capital.

I think when xmas is out of the way, people will feel more comfortable about parting with their money for the tickets. I mean there’s still 5 weeks to go and I expect BT etc will be doing a lot of marketing from January. I would be surprised if it isn’t full by fight night - it’s only a 12k arena.

I looked at the website and to me I couldn’t see that many available to buy. I assumed that’s because a lot of them were given out to the undercard fighters to sell.

I think they’ll be worse after Christmas.

[Manchester Hitman]

I got an email last night about tickets for this. It really hasnt sold well at all. Why is London such a hard sell? Most of the people who flock in for the big 'casual' shows are from outside the capital.

I think when xmas is out of the way, people will feel more comfortable about parting with their money for the tickets. I mean there’s still 5 weeks to go and I expect BT etc will be doing a lot of marketing from January. I would be surprised if it isn’t full by fight night - it’s only a 12k arena.

I looked at the website and to me I couldn’t see that many available to buy. I assumed that’s because a lot of them were given out to the undercard fighters to sell.

I think they’ll be worse after Christmas.

The ticket sales will be fine - wait and see

[veriton]

Hope it's a sellout it deserves to be. Maybe threat of rail strikes is putting some people off committing to the capital until closer to the time.

[keithmoonhangover]

I think when xmas is out of the way, people will feel more comfortable about parting with their money for the tickets. I mean there’s still 5 weeks to go and I expect BT etc will be doing a lot of marketing from January. I would be surprised if it isn’t full by fight night - it’s only a 12k arena.

I looked at the website and to me I couldn’t see that many available to buy. I assumed that’s because a lot of them were given out to the undercard fighters to sell.

I think they’ll be worse after Christmas.

The ticket sales will be fine - wait and see

There will be plenty of people at the event. Not sure how the ticket sales will go.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yarde said Usyk gave him advice.

Well he can’t win the fight for you.

[Monzon83]

Will they try to put this no-contest on PPV?

It's an insult to Beterbiev making him fight a bum-killer like Yarde so i expect they'll need to do that or Fwank will be getting creamed here.

[tonyevs]

Yarde said Usyk gave him advice.

Well he can’t win the fight for you.

The amateur fights are on Youtube. Usyk beat Beterbiev with speed and what can only be described as sublime movement - two things I don`t see Yarde being able to replicate.

If Yarde tries that tactic he gets a longer, but more painful beat down.
He needs to throw it all at Beterbiev before he warms up in the hope he gets lucky - because the longer the fight goes on the less Yardes luck will last.

Beterbiev is a monster - with very under rated skills. But he is getting on a bit now, and father time can show himself at the most unexpected times.

[TheLeprechaun]

Yarde is going to get KO'd fairly sharpish. Massive jumps from bums to world level is just not the way you progress a career. He got done from a jab by a Kovalev who was there for the taking and really got shown up there as limited. Beterbiev has handled slick guys like Browne and Gvosdyk who was a superb fighter in his own right. He has taken out hardmen like Smith Jr with good chins. Yarde is going to stand there with his poor defence and get caught trying to do a shoulder roll or something. It's not like he's going to have a relaxed low volume fight here. Beterviev is coming at him full pelt and concussive punches will be thrown with regularity from the start. I'm sure they've make their money with Yarde but in terms of winning fights at the highest level, he's got little to no chance and Beterbiev should have got this done within 3-4 rounds at the most for me. Beterbiev is a monster of a fighter.

[Glass Joe]

Yarde only British level. Advantage of having a decent promoter who can get you a high ranking

[Manchester Hitman]

Yarde is going to get KO'd fairly sharpish. Massive jumps from bums to world level is just not the way you progress a career. He got done from a jab by a Kovalev who was there for the taking and really got shown up there as limited. Beterbiev has handled slick guys like Browne and Gvosdyk who was a superb fighter in his own right. He has taken out hardmen like Smith Jr with good chins. Yarde is going to stand there with his poor defence and get caught trying to do a shoulder roll or something. It's not like he's going to have a relaxed low volume fight here. Beterviev is coming at him full pelt and concussive punches will be thrown with regularity from the start. I'm sure they've make their money with Yarde but in terms of winning fights at the highest level, he's got little to no chance and Beterbiev should have got this done within 3-4 rounds at the most for me. Beterbiev is a monster of a fighter.

Yarde has already made the jump from bums to world level when he fought Kovalev. Let’s not forget, he went over to Russia, as an inexperienced fighter at top level. The context of his ‘done by a jab” was that he was absolutely knackered at that point after emptying the tank trying to get Kovalev KO’d in the previous rounds. My Nan probably would have knocked him over at that point, but it wasn’t really a chin issue as I think your suggesting.

Again, inexperience with both the fighter and corner stopped him winning that fight which is no longer an issue on either front with the addition of James Cooke.

Yarde did not employ a shoulder roll against Artur and I would be shocked if they reverted back to it for this fight. He had his hands up and parried most of Lyndon’s jabs/rights hands off the gloves, moved his head a bit and closed the distance down with his feet and got to work. I agree in the event of going back to a shell guard/shoulder roll, he would likely get hammered out by Artur’s counter right hands over the top but I don’t think he will fight like that.

Beterbiev will be 38 on fight night. He has been hurt/cut up before and Yarde hits like a truck as well. Great fighter, but he is not unbeatable. This was also confirmed by Dan Azeez who said their power was basically equal having spared both numerous times. Kovalev also said despite winning, that Yarde hit him the hardest.

Beterbiev starts a good favourite, but it is foolish to completely rule out a Yarde victory. This is not some no hope fight like Paul Butler fighting Inoue.

I think this is a short war and both are bringing heavy artillery.

[margaret thatcher]

nice write up fwank

[Nightmare Roy]

Yarde is going to get KO'd fairly sharpish. Massive jumps from bums to world level is just not the way you progress a career. He got done from a jab by a Kovalev who was there for the taking and really got shown up there as limited. Beterbiev has handled slick guys like Browne and Gvosdyk who was a superb fighter in his own right. He has taken out hardmen like Smith Jr with good chins. Yarde is going to stand there with his poor defence and get caught trying to do a shoulder roll or something. It's not like he's going to have a relaxed low volume fight here. Beterviev is coming at him full pelt and concussive punches will be thrown with regularity from the start. I'm sure they've make their money with Yarde but in terms of winning fights at the highest level, he's got little to no chance and Beterbiev should have got this done within 3-4 rounds at the most for me. Beterbiev is a monster of a fighter.

Yarde has already made the jump from bums to world level when he fought Kovalev. Let’s not forget, he went over to Russia, as an inexperienced fighter at top level. The context of his ‘done by a jab” was that he was absolutely knackered at that point after emptying the tank trying to get Kovalev KO’d in the previous rounds. My Nan probably would have knocked him over at that point, but it wasn’t really a chin issue as I think your suggesting.

Again, inexperience with both the fighter and corner stopped him winning that fight which is no longer an issue on either front with the addition of James Cooke.

Yarde did not employ a shoulder roll against Artur and I would be shocked if they reverted back to it for this fight. He had his hands up and parried most of Lyndon’s jabs/rights hands off the gloves, moved his head a bit and closed the distance down with his feet and got to work. I agree in the event of going back to a shell guard/shoulder roll, he would likely get hammered out by Artur’s counter right hands over the top but I don’t think he will fight like that.

Beterbiev will be 38 on fight night. He has been hurt/cut up before and Yarde hits like a truck as well. Great fighter, but he is not unbeatable. This was also confirmed by Dan Azeez who said their power was basically equal having spared both numerous times. Kovalev also said despite winning, that Yarde hit him the hardest.

Beterbiev starts a good favourite, but it is foolish to completely rule out a Yarde victory. This is not some no hope fight like Paul Butler fighting Inoue.

I think this is a short war and both are bringing heavy artillery.

That's how I see it, not a 50/50 but Yarde definitely has the power to win, should be a fun fight whilst it lasts.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Interesting facts about Artur Beterbiev

• He was born as Artur Asilbekovich Beterbiev on 21st January 1985 in Khasavyurt, a city in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, and is of Chechen descent.

• During the first Chechen war, when Artur was aged 10, many civilians were left homeless. Although there was no war in Khasavyurt itself, but a fairly large flow of migrating families passed through, so the Beterbiev family helped to shelter refugees in their apartment, which reached up 30 people at times. Looking back, he recalled, "At that time our house was still unfinished, there was no second floor, some rooms, but we still found a place for everyone. The boys in their rooms, the girls in their own - that's how they lived."

• He lost his father early when he was still just a teenager after a car accident on a highway resulted in Asilbek Beterbiev losing too much blood.

• At 16, he enrolled in a sports scolarship in the RSUFC, but the amount of 150 Rubles per month was not enough to help his struggling family after the loos of their father.

• He beat Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev twice in the amateurs despite them being international teammates. Kovalev always maintained that Beterbiev was gifted the decisions against him and also went one further in their war of words to say he always dominated him in their many sparring sessions.

• He lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk in the amateurs - firstly at the 2011 World Championships quarter-finals, then again in the London 2012 Olympics. Usyk went on to win both competitions in the heavyweight division. The second defeat to Usyk in the London Summer Games was his last ever bout in a vest, as he made his pro debut the following year in 2013. During their 2011 bout, Beterbiev landed a devastating body shot in the final round, which dropped Usyk to one knee, but he stood back up and finished the fight well enough to still win.

• However, they fought three times, and in their first bout in 2007, Beterbiev secured the win over Usyk in a light-heavyweight contest, which he won by 12-10 on the judge's scorecards after four rounds.

• At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, he controversially lost to local boxer Zhang Xiaoping in the round of 16, who went on to win the gold medal.

• He reportedly ran his amateur record to 295-10, winning two European golds (2006 & 2010) and a World Championships gold in 2009 (plus a Silver in 2007).

• Notable amateur scalps: Michael Hunter; Oleksandr Gvozdyk; Igor Mikhalkin; Yuniel Dorticos; Thabiso Mchunu; Kenny Egan.

• As a pro, he is the only reigning world champion to have a 100% KO ratio, with 18 wins all coming by knockout. On average, he KOs his opponents every 4.6 rounds.

• Trained by Mark Ramsey,

• He started his paid career under Canadian promoter Yvon Michel, but following lengthy legal proceedings, they eventually split amicably in 2021. Beterbiev then entered into new a co-promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, but left after just one fight together and subsequently signed to Bob Arum's Top Rank.

• His next fight with Yarde will be his 14th consecutive championship contest.

• In his personal life, Artur is married with four children.

• He is friends with Ramzan Kadyrov, the dictator at the helm of Russia’s Chechnya region and ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Kadyrov has been accused of well-documented human rights abuses, including forced disappearances, torture, summary executions and an ongoing purge of Chechnya’s LGBTQ+ community.

[Coco]

Mark Ramsey the Birmingham journeyman?

[Ruthless-RKO]

[maverick23]

Looks like they’ve closed off a few sections of the arena. Crazy really considering it’s a good fight.

[Monzon83]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

[Manchester Hitman]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

So if Yarde wins or is at least competitive, does that make you a “clueless muppet” as well?

I mean your obviously entitled to your opinion and maybe you turn out to be correct, but from reading a few of your comments, your just dismissing this fight as if Yarde brings zero to the table.

I wonder if you have actually assessed the fight fully, or do you think Yarde is just going to come running straight into punches with zero defence like Joe Smith..

Yarde has youth, power, natural athletic ability, an ability to switch guards and yes a decent chin as displayed by eating 10rds of Kovalev right hands until finally going out from exhaustion/inexperience.

I’m happy to go on record and say he can win this fight. Unlike Kovalev/Arthur 1 (second fight he neutralised it with a high guard) he is not going to be facing a taller opponent with obv reach advantages and a good jab to start with. He actually matches up quite well with Artur physically, which is why I think this is a short war and both will get hurt in the process.

If he employs a good solid guard like he did with Arthur 2 with his hands up, blocking/parrying the punches and can get Beterbiev moving backwards, he will be able to get his own work off as although Arthur boxes well and has good movement off the back foot, his punch selection becomes only really the bombing right hook over the top.

Either way, this is an excellent fight and come the day after I think there will be plenty of interesting discussions on here.

[emallini]

Yarde to shock the world

[maverick23]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

So if Yarde wins or is at least competitive, does that make you a “clueless muppet” as well?

I mean your obviously entitled to your opinion and maybe you turn out to be correct, but from reading a few of your comments, your just dismissing this fight as if Yarde brings zero to the table.

I wonder if you have actually assessed the fight fully, or do you think Yarde is just going to come running straight into punches with zero defence like Joe Smith..

Yarde has youth, power, natural athletic ability, an ability to switch guards and yes a decent chin as displayed by eating 10rds of Kovalev right hands until finally going out from exhaustion/inexperience.

I’m happy to go on record and say he can win this fight. Unlike Kovalev/Arthur 1 (second fight he neutralised it with a high guard) he is not going to be facing a taller opponent with obv reach advantages and a good jab to start with. He actually matches up quite well with Artur physically, which is why I think this is a short war and both will get hurt in the process.

If he employs a good solid guard like he did with Arthur 2 with his hands up, blocking/parrying the punches and can get Beterbiev moving backwards, he will be able to get his own work off as although Arthur boxes well and has good movement off the back foot, his punch selection becomes only really the bombing right hook over the top.

Either way, this is an excellent fight and come the day after I think there will be plenty of interesting discussions on here.

With respect mate, you seem to be a big a Yarde fan so that might cloud your judgement on this.

A few months back you said it was a definite PPV and would sell at the O2. They’re struggling to sell out Wembley Arena which is broadly half the size and they’ve closed off areas of the arena too.

With regards to the fight I think it’s a good one and I’m looking forward to it but when your best win is against Lyndon Arthur after losing their first fight it’s hard to give Yarde a big chance.

The bookies have Beterbiev at 1/10, that’s the same odds as Parker to beat Massey. I don’t think the gulf in class is that big but Yarde hasn’t proven he’s world class yet.

It’s not a complete mismatch as some say but I also can’t criticise someone for saying it’s one-sided either.

[Manchester Hitman]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

So if Yarde wins or is at least competitive, does that make you a “clueless muppet” as well?

I mean your obviously entitled to your opinion and maybe you turn out to be correct, but from reading a few of your comments, your just dismissing this fight as if Yarde brings zero to the table.

I wonder if you have actually assessed the fight fully, or do you think Yarde is just going to come running straight into punches with zero defence like Joe Smith..

Yarde has youth, power, natural athletic ability, an ability to switch guards and yes a decent chin as displayed by eating 10rds of Kovalev right hands until finally going out from exhaustion/inexperience.

I’m happy to go on record and say he can win this fight. Unlike Kovalev/Arthur 1 (second fight he neutralised it with a high guard) he is not going to be facing a taller opponent with obv reach advantages and a good jab to start with. He actually matches up quite well with Artur physically, which is why I think this is a short war and both will get hurt in the process.

If he employs a good solid guard like he did with Arthur 2 with his hands up, blocking/parrying the punches and can get Beterbiev moving backwards, he will be able to get his own work off as although Arthur boxes well and has good movement off the back foot, his punch selection becomes only really the bombing right hook over the top.

Either way, this is an excellent fight and come the day after I think there will be plenty of interesting discussions on here.

With respect mate, you seem to be a big a Yarde fan so that might cloud your judgement on this.

A few months back you said it was a definite PPV and would sell at the O2. They’re struggling to sell out Wembley Arena which is broadly half the size and they’ve closed off areas of the arena too.

With regards to the fight I think it’s a good one and I’m looking forward to it but when your best win is against Lyndon Arthur after losing their first fight it’s hard to give Yarde a big chance.

The bookies have Beterbiev at 1/10, that’s the same odds as Parker to beat Massey. I don’t think the gulf in class is that big but Yarde hasn’t proven he’s world class yet.

It’s not a complete mismatch as some say but I also can’t criticise someone for saying it’s one-sided either.

It’s as much a PPV quality fight as Taylor- Catterall apparently is going to be, but like that fight I never claimed it was one that casuals would be all over..more aimed at boxing fans. The fact that QP/BT have gone standard subscription is a bonus and i”m expecting they will announce massive viewership ratings.

As far as I can see, it’s not 100% that the venue has been closed off (yet)- those cheaper tickets in those sections I believe are out with undercard fighters to try to sell off. But I could be wrong, which is a different topic anyway from the quality of the matchup.

I am a fan of Yarde, but I’m objective before anything else. I’m also a fan of Denzel Bentley and I was one of few on here who said he could do something in that fight and kind of laid out why I thought that way, and he obviously ended up doing well.

[Monzon83]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

So if Yarde wins or is at least competitive, does that make you a “clueless muppet” as well?

I mean your obviously entitled to your opinion and maybe you turn out to be correct, but from reading a few of your comments, your just dismissing this fight as if Yarde brings zero to the table.

I wonder if you have actually assessed the fight fully, or do you think Yarde is just going to come running straight into punches with zero defence like Joe Smith..

Yarde has youth, power, natural athletic ability, an ability to switch guards and yes a decent chin as displayed by eating 10rds of Kovalev right hands until finally going out from exhaustion/inexperience.

I’m happy to go on record and say he can win this fight. Unlike Kovalev/Arthur 1 (second fight he neutralised it with a high guard) he is not going to be facing a taller opponent with obv reach advantages and a good jab to start with. He actually matches up quite well with Artur physically, which is why I think this is a short war and both will get hurt in the process.

If he employs a good solid guard like he did with Arthur 2 with his hands up, blocking/parrying the punches and can get Beterbiev moving backwards, he will be able to get his own work off as although Arthur boxes well and has good movement off the back foot, his punch selection becomes only really the bombing right hook over the top.

Either way, this is an excellent fight and come the day after I think there will be plenty of interesting discussions on here.

Do you think Yarde is anywhere near the same league as Beterbiev? Yarde isn't near the level of Smith Jr or Gvodzyk both of whom Beterbiev battered. Yarde's last 3 opponents are Koykov, Arthur and Alex Theran none of whom are anywhere near this level. What makes you think he should be fighting a P4P fighter like Beterbiev?

If they had tried to build Yarde with some higher calibre opposition rather than the stiffs they've fed him, i might take it more seriously. Has he even fought a top 10 LHW? Let's call this what it is, a blatant cash-out and a chance to get Beterbiev to the UK for a payday.

For Yarde's sake let's hope he doesn't get too badly hammered because there are good fights for him out there, just not this one.

[Ezzard]

I heard that clueless muppet Simon Jordan on Talksport apparently saying this is a great fight that Yarde has a great chance of winning???

Hopefully somebody can remind Jordan about that when Artur smashes Yarde to pieces.

So if Yarde wins or is at least competitive, does that make you a “clueless muppet” as well?

I mean your obviously entitled to your opinion and maybe you turn out to be correct, but from reading a few of your comments, your just dismissing this fight as if Yarde brings zero to the table.

I wonder if you have actually assessed the fight fully, or do you think Yarde is just going to come running straight into punches with zero defence like Joe Smith..

Yarde has youth, power, natural athletic ability, an ability to switch guards and yes a decent chin as displayed by eating 10rds of Kovalev right hands until finally going out from exhaustion/inexperience.

I’m happy to go on record and say he can win this fight. Unlike Kovalev/Arthur 1 (second fight he neutralised it with a high guard) he is not going to be facing a taller opponent with obv reach advantages and a good jab to start with. He actually matches up quite well with Artur physically, which is why I think this is a short war and both will get hurt in the process.

If he employs a good solid guard like he did with Arthur 2 with his hands up, blocking/parrying the punches and can get Beterbiev moving backwards, he will be able to get his own work off as although Arthur boxes well and has good movement off the back foot, his punch selection becomes only really the bombing right hook over the top.

Either way, this is an excellent fight and come the day after I think there will be plenty of interesting discussions on here.

Do you think Yarde is anywhere near the same league as Beterbiev? Yarde isn't near the level of Smith Jr or Gvodzyk both of whom Beterbiev battered. Yarde's last 3 opponents are Koykov, Arthur and Alex Theran none of whom are anywhere near this level. What makes you think he should be fighting a P4P fighter like Beterbiev?

If they had tried to build Yarde with some higher calibre opposition rather than the stiffs they've fed him, i might take it more seriously. Has he even fought a top 10 LHW? Let's call this what it is, a blatant cash-out and a chance to get Beterbiev to the UK for a payday.

For Yarde's sake let's hope he doesn't get too badly hammered because there are good fights for him out there, just not this one.

I think Yarde is a live underdog. Johnson managed to land and Yarde will too. No way will I put money on it but it's a good fight. Do you think a devastating loss as you think will rule out a Buatsi fight?

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