Anthony Yarde is in New York this week to take in Saturday’s world light heavyweight title fight between WBC and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev and WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.
The trip can now be a scouting mission for the 30-year-old after promoter Bob Arum told the Daily Mail that the WBO mandatory challenger will fight the winner:
“Yarde will be next assuming Artur wins this big fight. And his chance will come in England in a huge fight for the UK.”
Arum co-promotes Smith along with Star Boxing and revealed that Yarde’s second world title opportunity (having lost to Sergey Kovalev in 2019) may take place overseas should the New Yorker win tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre.
“I also expect Yarde will get his chance if Smith wins here but that might complicate the choice of venue. They might want to bring it to the Garden. But however, it goes this Saturday I will be working with Frank Warren to sort it out.”
Yarde and his promoter have taken a cautious approach since the Londoner’s impressive rematch win over Lyndon Arthur last November. Spots had opened up on some of Frank Warren’s cards this year for his man to return but instead they chose not to, avoiding any chance of the world title shot being jeopardised.
Read Boxing Social’s article for full details on how to watch, the undercard and US/UK fight times for Beterbiev vs Smith.