After many months, if not years, of speculation about a fight between the two, it seems as though a fresh and positive update about the status of a battle between Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yarde could suggest it might yet happen after all.
This pair have long been on a collision course in what would be one of the best fights that could be made at light heavyweight. Neither man yet has a title but both have plenty of professional experience.
One stumbling block has been that both British fighters are with different promoters and broadcasters – Buatsi fights with BOXXER on Sky, and Yarde is contracted to Frank Warren’s Queensberry and TNT Sports.
Yarde has recently claimed he is a free agent, though his promoter Frank Warren responded to that to say he disagreed, meaning there is some for to be done there before any fights can be made.
However, a new update from the WBO about the injury suffered by Artur Beterbiev means they are insisting that two fighters compete for their interim title while he recovers and before he fights Dimitri Bivol for the undisputed status later in the year.
Number one world-rated contender Buatsi and number three world-rated contender Yarde are the highest two available contenders in the division and they have now been ordered to start negotiations with full details given below.
“Because of Beterbiev’s unavailability due to injury and required recovery time, this Committee hereby determines that is in the best interests of boxing and the contenders in the WBO Light Heavyweight Division, that an interim championship is justified subject to specific provisions by this Committee in order to terminate the interim champion status within a required time in accordance with our policy of only one world champion in each weight class. Therefore, by virtue of today’s ruling, the activity in the referenced weight category is not interrupted and consequently, safeguards and protects the rights and interests of the remaining contenders.
Wherefore, in light of the above and per the relevant WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, the parties are hereby ordered to commence negotiations for the Interim Light Heavyweight Championship according the following terms and conditions: (i) the camps are granted 10 days to negotiate and reach an agreement as ordered; (ii) Failure to reach an accord within the period outlined herein, will result in the Committee ordering purse bid proceedings pursuant to WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. The minimum bid for the Light Heavyweight Division is $300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Dollars). Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid proceedings at any time during the negotiation process.”
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