BoxRec

Press Release

Anthony Yarde will take on Dec Spelman, in what will prove an ideal chance to directly compare himself against potential future foe Lyndon Arthur - who last month edged Spelman on points behind-closed-doors.

Yarde challenged for a World Title against Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and has been absent since his Russian mission - where he came within seconds of toppling the legendary champion.

The light heavyweight Beast from the East is now back in business against an opponent who extended Manchester's Arthur to 12 rounds of work in July. Commenting on the fight on behalf of BT Sport on the night, Yarde complained over a lack of entertainment from the pair and that he needed paying to stay awake.

Yarde will be looking to provide more entertainment on September 12.

Also featuring on what will be a huge night of action is the heavyweight return of Nathan Gorman, 16-1, who will fight Richard Lartey from Ghana (subject to visa approval) in an eliminator for the Commonwealth title. Both have a shared experience of taking on Daniel Dubois, with the 14-2 Lartey engaging in an explosive shootout with the young Londoner before being stopped in four rounds at Wembley Arena in April of last year.

Gorman, just 24, will be seeking to put the domestic heavyweight division on notice that he is back in the fold and in the bidding for major titles once again.


The vacant IBF European welterweight championship will be on the line for English champion Ekow Essuman when he goes in with the Frenchman Cedrick Peynaud. The Paris-based Peynaud took part in two epic struggles against Connor Benn across 2017-18 where both men were put to the canvas and it represents an ideal test for Essuman, who is in the British title mix along with Benn and the champion Chris Jenkins.

In what is a huge fight for the middleweight division in this country, a battle of the big punchers is confirmed between Battersea's Denzel Bentley (13-0) and Oldham's Mark Heffron (25-1).

For a fight that surely cannot fail to deliver fireworks, the IBF European title is the prize for the winner between two men who have not been shy in calling each other out across social media.

Promoter allegedly - who will also showcase the talents of lightweight Mohammad Bilal Ali on the night, along with new signings Amin Jahanzeb (7-0, featherweight) and Joshua Frankham (debut, super welterweight) - said:

"This is a card with the potential to deliver for the fans watching on BT Sport in a big way.

“Boxing is a game of ego’s and Anthony is keen to show the world that he can go one better than Lyndon and blast Spelman out early.

“Spelman is not an easy fight for anyone, but if Anthony comes through we’ll be on course for Yarde vs Arthur later this year hopefully.”

"I am delighted to be bringing Anthony back because he needs a competitive fight before his big domestic showdown against Lyndon Arthur and he will be determined to do a better job on Dec Spelman than his rival. He has put the onus on himself to find an explosive performance after complaining about Lyndon's fight with Dec being boring!


"I still firmly believe Anthony is a world-level elite operator and he will prove as much given time but, for now, he needs to keep busy and remind the public of what he is all about."

Anthony Yarde said:

"The people want explosive action and knockouts so I will not be hiding behind my jab and sending everyone to sleep," stated the 19-1 man from Ilford.

"This will be all about me reminding people that I am the force of the division and I am heading right back to the top where I intend to dominate and reign for a long time to come.

"I respect Dec Spelman as a fighter but this is the chance for me to show everyone what they can expect when I get to share a ring with Lyndon Arthur."

Dec Spelman said:

"If Yarde comes to fight then so much the better for me. Lyndon made our fight a technical affair that I was disappointed I couldn't really get to grips with, so if Yarde wants some action then bring it on.

"I will actually be his first test at domestic level so we will see how he looks on the night."

Arthur dealt with Spelman, this is just a tick over fight for Yarde. Hasn’t fought in a year, lost some family members over the last 7 months. Can’t be easy.

He’s just easing back.

The other fights ain’t too bad.

Lartey gave some effort against DDD, he could give Gorman a good fight hopefully. Heffron vs. Bentley could be FOTY.

Basically it’s gonna be,

“Who can beat up Spelman more?”

I@m sorry for not taking the poll seriously.

skanksta wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 14:14 I@m sorry for not taking the poll seriously.

You think Dec will win?

Must be an absolute shitter at the moment.

Most guys have been out for at least 6 months so it turns into pay me over the odds for keep busy fights.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 14:17

skanksta wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 14:14 I@m sorry for not taking the poll seriously.

You think Dec will win?

Of course I don't !
Can Dec go the distance is the poll isn't it ?
Doubtful...

Still it's not the worst fight is it ?
It's a decent British level scrap and Yarde hasn't actually beaten a world level guy yet, so..
I'll watch it anyway.

got to feel for spelman, has been in tough over this pandemic.

Better card. Yarde still has a very odd resume - Spelman is a tough sod and should give him rounds but I can’t see what threat he poses in reality?

Yarde has many attributes, and acquitted himself well against Kovalev, although not a peak version. If Arthur can take his power and come out of the first half of the fight reasonably unscathed and still in it I’m beginning to come round to the belief that he’ll beat Yarde. We’ll see.

The rest are good fights. Hefforn and Bentley is one I’m really looking forward to and although Lartey is very raw he’s a big fit lad who is likely coming to win and looked like he could dig a bit. It’s a fight I like for Gorman and given some of the knock over jobs that come over here I’m glad to see Lartey get another shot.

Overall pretty happy with this as it stands

Good card. Looking forward to Heffron v Bentley. Decent test for Gorman aswell.

Jesus, you worry for Spelman's health taking a second inevitable kicking in a row

Ref couldn't stop Lartey quick enough against DDD , I remember he was peeved after and wouldn't give his hand to the ref when DDD had his hand raised.

Lartey looks a good match if he's in shape.

Some decent fights on this card.

Hmmm, well tbh the only one that seems like a good matchup to me is Heff-Bentley, maybe I need to cheer the f@ck up or something?

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 01:45 Hmmm, well tbh the only one that seems like a good matchup to me is Heff-Bentley, maybe I need to cheer the f@ck up or something?

It’s a really poor main event - similar to several of FW’s post lockdown events.

Spelman is area/English title level whilst Yarde is being pushed as being at a much higher level than that. Why can’t he a have a more meaningful fight here? I don’t really get why he can’t fight Lyndon Arthur now to be honest. Other fighters have taken more meaningful fights in their post lockdown returns.

Decent undercard. The report I read said visa pending after Lartey’s name which doesn’t bode well for a FW show but him against Gorman is a good decent fight. As are the other 2 fights announced.

dookus wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 16:50 Jesus, you worry for Spelman's health taking a second inevitable kicking in a row

Yeah Spelman getting used up at this point, only 28 but won't be around much longer if he keeps taking these.

Money must be good enough. Anybody know what he does for a living?

Was wondering when Peynaud was gonna get brought back over. Theres obviously some good publicity to be had if Essuman can stop him off the back of his fights with Conor Benn.

Not criticising, smart move. I know Essuman is English champion and former team GB but haven't seen him fight yet.

Domestic Welterweight scene heating up nicely

Main event is a shocker, Spelman was beat up by Arthur, and he's out again very quickly. Surely Yarde is well past this level. A very cynical piece of matchmaking.

Webbo911 wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 02:37

dookus wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 16:50 Jesus, you worry for Spelman's health taking a second inevitable kicking in a row

Yeah Spelman getting used up at this point, only 28 but won't be around much longer if he keeps taking these.

Money must be good enough. Anybody know what he does for a living?

Scaffolder I believe

Shhhh wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 09:23 I like Lartey’s bright orange beard. Is it a religious thing

Yeah I doubt he’ll be on any bills with Josh Taylor any time soon.....

no disrepect to dec who i like, but yarde in a couple of rds , prove me wrong dec go on son