Anthony Yarde believes he can transfer as much as cruiserweight ultimately and problem Chris Billam-Smith for the WBO championship at 200lbs.
London’s Yarde has twice challenged for light-heavyweight world titles, tackling Sergey Kovalev in 2019 for the WBO belt after which fearsome knockout artist, and unified champion, Artur Beterbiev final yr.
There are tremendously thrilling fights for Yarde at light-heavyweight, with the winner of the Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez February 3 struggle notably interesting.
However long run Yarde’s staff consider he generally is a pressure at cruiserweight, too.
“There are some nice fights, some nice potentialities for Anthony primarily because the fighter and myself because the supervisor and coach to discover. We had been even speaking about large fights up at cruiserweight,” Tunde Ajayi, his coach and supervisor, advised Sky Sports activities.
“I might even go up to now, for those who put the precise proposal to Anthony now, he’ll struggle Chris Billam-Smith tomorrow. 100 million p.c.”
Billam-Smith beat Lawrence Okolie to win the world title and defended it in December towards Poland’s Mateusz Masternak.
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Anthony Yarde and Barry Jones preview Joshua Buatsi’s large home conflict with Dan Azeez subsequent month, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
At 175lbs Yarde has notable energy and he did have an thrilling battle with Beterbiev, who is without doubt one of the heaviest punchers, pound-for-pound, within the sport.
Ajayi maintains Yarde does have the attributes to succeed at cruiser, even with the massive step up in weight from light-heavy.
“Anthony has been a cruiserweight from the start of his profession, it is self-discipline and dedication which has allowed him to make the light-heavyweight division. It isn’t as a result of he isn’t keen go and struggle greater guys,” Ajayi stated.
“It is no secret, he is a large light-heavyweight by way of width. He packs a punch. We all know that he is able to preventing as a cruiserweight no downside.
“We simply have to attend and see what comes up. That is the trustworthy reality. We’re prepared. We’re all the time prepared. Anthony’s a consummate skilled.
“He trains and spars with greater guys, has carried out properly towards British champions at cruiser and even world champions at cruiser within the gymnasium. So I do not assume there’d be any downside with Anthony transferring as much as that weight and preventing Billam-Smith.”
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Anthony Yarde believes a conflict with Joshua Buatsi could be one of many greatest fights in Britain and he is assured of securing the knockout victory over his home rival.
However Croydon’s Buatsi, one of many stars of the 2016 Olympic Video games, has been Yarde’s long-term rival.
“These two names have been linked for therefore lengthy,” Ajayi stated. “It was bizarre – you’ve gotten somebody who’s an Olympic darling, a bronze medallist, huge pedigree being aligned to somebody who’d had 12 newbie fights [before turning pro].
“At the moment most individuals would not have even given it a contest. Most individuals would say there is not any method AY may beat JB. However I feel historical past finally rights all the things and I feel folks have seen Anthony’s been the fighter that is stepped as much as world degree twice, despite the fact that he is had much less expertise.
“Folks discuss expertise, Anthony’s obtained it now. For Anthony, he is stated it right here, what higher time to make the struggle. He even went up to now to say [to Buatsi] I am calling you out in your platform. It is all thrilling.”
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Joshua Buatsi didn’t take kindly to an interview from rival Anthony Yarde the place he was labelled ‘mediocre’ in a few of his performances.
However Ajayi warns that Lewisham’s Azeez, the reigning British champion, is a extreme menace to Buatsi.
“As a result of so many individuals are speaking about Buatsi and Yarde some could also be overlooking Dan. You possibly can’t measure ardour, need and willpower and we all know that is what Dan brings to the desk. In order that’s going to be a really fascinating struggle,” he stated.
“I feel a struggle with both of them could be a large – to not say they are not world class – home mud up [for Yarde].
“However the one everybody desires to see is Joshua Buatsi and the one who desires to see it greater than anybody is Anthony Yarde.”
Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez is dwell on Sky Sports activities on February 3.