Anthony Yarde: I can grow into Heavyweight
Posted: 06 Jul 2017, 08:46
Anthony Yarde dreams as big as he punches and on Saturday he can take a step closer to his ambitious goals.
The unbeaten light-heavyweight is one of Britain's most exciting boxing prospects, aiming not only to become world No.1 in his division, but also at cruiserweight and even heavyweight, where fellow Londoner Anthony Joshua is world No.1.
"They say aim for the stars, but I want to aim beyond the stars," Yarde told ESPN. "I believe in making the impossible possible."
"Mike Tyson used his height to his advantage. He was a tank and always born a heavyweight, but I have a similar squat physique and could grow into being a heavyweight.
"Skills are important and if I can take the speed I have now into the heavyweight division I will be able to cause a lot of problems. Right now though, all my focus is on the light-heavyweight scene.
"A lot of boxing is to do with skills but I've sparred a few rounds with heavyweights and have noticed how you get tired more because of their weight.
"But eventually I believe I can go up to other weight divisions. Mike Tyson was my height, 6ft, and I've got knockout power.
"I used to do athletics so I know how to put on weight in the right way and if my body is not going up I will listen to my body. But equally, if my body is telling me I need to move up from light-heavyweight, I will.
"Roy Jones Jr actually started as a middleweight and won world titles at middleweight, super-middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight. My dreams are to unify the world light-heavyweight titles like Roy Jones did and then at cruiserweight before then possibly the heavyweight division."
The unbeaten light-heavyweight is one of Britain's most exciting boxing prospects, aiming not only to become world No.1 in his division, but also at cruiserweight and even heavyweight, where fellow Londoner Anthony Joshua is world No.1.
"They say aim for the stars, but I want to aim beyond the stars," Yarde told ESPN. "I believe in making the impossible possible."
"Mike Tyson used his height to his advantage. He was a tank and always born a heavyweight, but I have a similar squat physique and could grow into being a heavyweight.
"Skills are important and if I can take the speed I have now into the heavyweight division I will be able to cause a lot of problems. Right now though, all my focus is on the light-heavyweight scene.
"A lot of boxing is to do with skills but I've sparred a few rounds with heavyweights and have noticed how you get tired more because of their weight.
"But eventually I believe I can go up to other weight divisions. Mike Tyson was my height, 6ft, and I've got knockout power.
"I used to do athletics so I know how to put on weight in the right way and if my body is not going up I will listen to my body. But equally, if my body is telling me I need to move up from light-heavyweight, I will.
"Roy Jones Jr actually started as a middleweight and won world titles at middleweight, super-middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight. My dreams are to unify the world light-heavyweight titles like Roy Jones did and then at cruiserweight before then possibly the heavyweight division."