Anthony Yarde Targets Joshua Buatsi Bout After Disappointing Return To The Ring
Anthony Yarde has revived his interest in fighting British rival Joshua Buatsi after making his return to the ring with an underwhelming points victory over Ralfs Vilcans on Saturday.
Yarde (26-3-0 24 KO) comfortably defeated the unheralded Vilcans (17-2-0 7 KO) at the Copper Box Arena in London, England. But despite sending the Latvian to the canvas in the first round, the Londoner couldn’t find the stoppage and was taken the distance in victory for the first time since his second pro bout (which was a four-rounder) more than nine years ago.
It was hardly the statement win Yarde would have wanted as he looks to get back into world title contention in a thriving light-heavyweight division. However, there is still a big demand among British fight fans to see Yarde take on Buatsi after talks for a bout fell through earlier this year.
“I will fight anybody,” Yarde told Sky Sports. “I’ve fought at the top of the mountain. Sometimes who is put in front of you might bring out the best version of you.
“This is a last-minute opponent. Maybe mentally I got a bit complacent here, but I would have to turn up for Buatsi. It’s not just Joshua Buatsi, there’s Dan Azeez, Craig Richards, so many names in this British scene.
“I’ve fought twice at world level. Before [Dmitry] Bivol I gave [Artur] Beterbiev his hardest fight. There’s fights out there, but Josh Buatsi is one of the fights I want personally.”
Yarde has indeed fared well on his two steps up to challenge for world titles. He gave then-WBO champion Sergei Kovalev a tough challenge in August 2018 before getting stopped in the 11th round.
Then, in January 2023, Yarde was ahead on two scorecards and was causing reigning undisputed champion Beterbiev plenty of problems until the stoppage came in the sixth round. Yarde’s only other loss came in a controversial split decision to Lyndon Arthur in December 2020.
“In my career I’ve had very little experience of doing long rounds,” Yarde said when discussing his fight with Vilcans. “Usually when I hit someone the fight is done.
“The worst thing that could have happened was me dropping him in the first round. Then I got content that I could knock out this guy. It’s all experience. In the last round I said, ‘let me just box. I might not knock him out, but let me box and get a different kind of experience.’”
Buatsi was ringside to watch Yarde and the unbeaten challenger refused to criticize his rival’s performance.
“This was a routine fight,” Buatsi told Sky Sports. “He didn’t get rid of him. We heard what he had to say but I’m outside the ring and I’m comfortable. I won’t say too much but I know what I would have done with that opponent.”
Buatsi said Yarde’s disappointing display had not made him any more or less confident of his own chances if the pair finally meet in the ring, adding: “I was confident before that fight. He said himself if he’s boxing Buatsi he will have to show up.
“I’m not going to start chatting rubbish about him and how he performed. The guy got put down in the first round and should not have seen past round three in my opinion.”
