The undefeated WBC, IBF and WBO Light-Heavyweight world champion, Artur Beterbiev, puts his belts on the line against a boxer who was jabbed to bits by a one-armed Lyndon Arthur? Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde has all the trimmings of a legally sanctioned bloodbath – unrestricted in it’s non-PPV status!
In 2009, a fledgling Yarde first enters a boxing gym after his dreams of football stardom were crushed by injury. Meanwhile, over in Italy, Beterbiev picked up his first World Championships gold in Milan, Italy. Flashforward to 2017, the Russian collected the IBF world title over Enrico Koelling just two months after ‘The Beast from the East’ had dispatched Norbert Nemesapati (25-6) in three rounds.
The disparity in career relevance is jaw-dropping yet Beterbiev vs Yarde is a fascinating fight that more than makes up for the undercard’s lack of intrigue.
Where/When is Beterbiev vs Yarde taking place:
January 28, 2023. OVO Arena. London, United Kingdom.
What time does Beterbiev vs Yarde start:
🇬🇧 UK: 10:30pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 5.30pm
Forget buffstreams, crackstreams or Reddit streams, you can find the UFC 276 stream on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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Beterbiev vs Yarde Bitesize Predictions
| Beterbiev vs Yarde Odds | Beterbiev vs Yarde Predictions |
|---|---|
| Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde Odds: (-1100) / (+590) | Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde Prediction: Beterbiev TKO Round 4 |
| Artem Dalakian vs David Jimenez Odds: (-152) / (+120) | Artem Dalakian vs David Jimenez Prediction: Dalakian Decision |
| Karol Itauma vs Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna Odds: (-6000) / (+1600) | Karol Itauma vs Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna Prediction: Itauma Decision |
| Charles Frankham vs Joshua Ocampo Odds: (-5000) / (+1600) | Charles Frankham vs Joshua Ocampo Prediction: Frankham Decision |
| Umar Khan vs Sandeep Singh Bhatti Odds: (-3000) / (+1340) | Umar Khan vs Sandeep Singh Bhatti Prediction: Khan Decision |
| Sean Noakes vs Santiago Garces Odds: (-5000) / (+1600) | Sean Noakes vs Santiago Garces Prediction: Noakes Decision |
| Tommy Fletcher vs Darryl Sharp Odds: (-6000) / (+1600) | Tommy Fletcher vs Darryl Sharp Prediction: Fletcher TKO Round 4 |
| Masood Abdulah vs Lesther Lara Odds: N/A | Masood Abdulah vs Lesther Lara Prediction: Adulah Decision |
| Joshua Frankham vs Joe Hardy Odds: (-3000) / (+1340) | Joshua Frankham vs Joe Hardy Prediction: Frankham TKO Round 2 |
| Khalid Ali vs Ivica Gogosevic Odds: (-6000) / (+1600) | Khalid Ali vs Ivica Gogosevic Prediction: Ali TKO Round 2 |
| Moses Itauma vs Marcel Bode Odds: (-8000) / (+1600) | Moses Itauma vs Marcel Bode Prediction: Itauma TKO Round 1 |
Beterbiev vs Yarde: Main Event
Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde
Light Heavyweight (175)
IBF World Light Heavyweight Title
WBC World Light Heavyweight Title
WBO World Light Heavyweight Title
Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18KOs)
Artur Beterbiev may not be the biggest name in the UK yet, but a demolition job on Saturday night should earn him the respect he deserves. The Russian has a perfect 100% knockout record, including big scalps over strong B-tier competition (Joe Smith Jr, Marcus Browne and Oleksandr Gvozdyk). Key to Beterbiev’s success is a thorough knowledge of the inside game, specifically understanding the value of posting and establishing dominance in early hand-fights. Yarde’s natural preference to slip and counter will be putty in the hands of Beterbiev as he is more than happy to delve into dirty boxing to disrupt and batter an opponent.
Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22KOs)
There are two reasons to back Anthony Yarde against Artur Beterbiev. Firstly, the Russian is nearing 40 years of age and will be facing a freak athletic specimen in terms of power and speed. More importantly, trainer James Cook has been added to the mix – diluting whatever tomfoolery that Tunde Ajayi has been conjuring over the past decade. Even considering both factors, Yarde is facing his first elite opponent (in their prime) without having fought a respectable foe for over a year. It’s a recipe for disaster for a fighter who thrives out of his wayward Philly shell, with his flat feet and low lead hand offering far too easy an avenue for Beterbiev to ignore.
Beterbiev vs Yarde Prediction: Beterbiev TKO Round 4
Return to Beterbiev vs Yarde Fight Card
Beterbiev vs Yarde: Co-Main Event
Artem Dalakian vs David Jimenez
Flyweight (112)
WBA World Flyweight Title
Artem Dalakian (21-0, 15KOs)
Ukranian, Artem Dalakian, defends his WBA Flyweight world title in the UK for the first time – swapping seats at the press conference to avoid being pictured alongside Russian Beterbiev. Dalakian returns to the ring after a year on the sidelines, jumping back in with top competition. The champ is effortlessly slick off his back-foot. Dalakian’s ability to consistently keep his weight spread evenly ensures that his powerful right hand always remains a threat – exhibited by his impressive 71% knockout ratio in a feather-fisted division.
David Jimenez (12-0, 9KOs)
Undefeated Costa Rican, David Jimenez, has flown up the professional ranks after a relatively sucessful amateur career. Jimenez’s biggest scalp came in his last outing as he picked up a majority decision over Ricardo Rafael Sandoval at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Sandoval was comfortably out-boxing Jimenez in the early rounds, yet the Costa Rican’s grit and relentless pressure eventually saw him gain the upper hand in the tougher 50/50 exchanges down the stretch. For Jimenez to win, he will have to draw Dalakian out of his comfort zone of the back-foot.
Dalakian vs Jimenez Prediction: Dalakian Decision
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Rest of the Card
Karol Itauma vs Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna
Light Heavyweight (175)
WBC International Light Heavyweight Title
Karol Itauma (9-0, 7KOs)
The Youth Olympic gold medallist continues to ease his way in the professional ranks, an understandable approach for a 22-year-old. Itauma blugeoned Vladimir Belujsky on the Tyson Fury vs Dereck Chisora undercard, unleashing a ramrod yet predicatable jab from the get-go. Against tougher opposition, Itauma needs to mask his otherwise excellent Southpaw jab.
Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (28-10, 18KOs)
Maderna represents a stiffer test than Itauma has faced before, a 3-time Argentinian champion who holds 18 knockouts to his name. Just four years ago, Maderna took Fedor Chudinov ten hard rounds before falling in the tenth. Maderna’s defensive movement is surprisingly slick during the first layer of exchanges, demanding an aggressive showing that we have yet to see from Itauma.
Itauma vs Maderna Prediction: Itauma Decision
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Charles Frankham vs Joshua Ocampo
Super Featherweight (130)
Charles Frankham (6-0, 2KOs)
Another of Frank Warren’s prospects, Charles Frankham has been slow to build his professional stock over the past three years despite carrying over 71 amateur victories. Frankham’s last outing against Sandeep Singh Bhatti was a messy brawl of aggression – never in trouble of losing yet an awkward and ugly display that explains the long gaps between bouts to mature his game.
Joshua Ocampo (8-10, 6KOs)
Colombian journeyman, Joshua Ocampo, enters Saturday night on a eight-fight slide, including a six-round loss to Brad Foster in Wolves to close out 2022. Small for the weight, lacking athleticism and devoid of any threatening answers off the back-foot, Ocampo represents a step-down frm Bhatti.
Frankham vs Ocampo Prediction: Frankham Decision
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Umar Khan vs Sandeep Singh Bhatti
Featherweight (126)
Umar Khan (5-0)
Amateur national champion, Umar Khan, is monstrously talented mid-range fighter. Khan can switch off defensively, as seen in his flash knockdown to Engel Gomez, but his aesthetic four-punch blitzes are beautifully crafted and thrown.
Sandeep Singh Bhatti (8-5, 1KO)
To be fair to Bhatti, he is a very game journeyman who threw everything and the kitchen sink at Charles Frankham. Respectfully, Bhatti is limited to a high guard on the outside and only finds success from winging hooks in the pocket. It’s entertaining to see against prospects, but it’s not the recipe for a long career as an away fighter.
Khan vs Bhatti Prediction: Khan Decision
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Sean Noakes vs Santiago Garces
Welterweight (147)
Sean Noakes (3-0, 1KO)
Brother of Commonwealth champion Sam Noakes, Sean fights with a similarly aggressive high-pressure style yet lacks the plus athleticism. There’s decent pop to his shots as he regularly plants his feet, yet slack upper body movement has seen Sean eat punishment against tame competition.
Santiago Garces (4-12-3, 2KO)
Since an undefeated 4-0-3 start to his career, Santiago Garces has endured a 12-fight slide on a whistle-stop tour throughout Europe. Only once has the Colombian been stopped within the distance, a record that belies his preference to pick away at opponents in the pocket.
Noakes vs Garces Prediction: Noakes Decision
Return to Beterbiev vs Yarde Fight Card
Tommy Fletcher vs Darryl Sharp
Cruiserweight (200)
Tommy Fletcher (3-0, 3KOs)
Three wins, three knockouts, and a thriving Cruiserweight domestic scene in which Tommy Fletcher will be keen to throw his hat in by the end of the year. The 21-year-old is an absolute giant at the weight but the switch-hitter is comedically sleet footed and throws his best work on the inside.
Darryl Sharp (7-96-1, 1KO)
Congratulations to Darryl Sharp who snapped a 14-fight slide with a points decision victory last month. Sharp is your stereotypical British journeyman – shell up behind the high guard, fall into an overhand and clinch up on the inside.
Fletcher vs Sharp Prediction: Fletcher TKO Round 4
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Masood Abdulah vs Lesther Lara
Super Featherweight (130)
Masood Abdulah (7-0, 7KOs)
Another national champion on Frank Warren’s roster, Masood Abulah is 29-years-old and more ready to take the next step than his fellow Queensberry peers. Whenever Abulah doubles or triples his jab, he tends to tangle his back-foot – a weakspot that needs resolving immediately.
Lesther Lara (17-13-2, 7KOs)
Following an eight-year career across the Nicaraguan domestic scene, Lara picked up his gloves again in 2022 and set off on the road. Lara is a durable character, papering off the many holes in his defensive shell. Last month, Hugh Micallef only needed shoulder feints to break Lara’s guard.
Abdulah vs Lara Prediction: Abdulah Decision
Return to Beterbiev vs Yarde Fight Card
Joshua Frankham vs Joe Hardy
Welterweight (147)
Joshua Frankham (6-0, 2KOs)
The other Frankham brother who is taking his sweet time ramping up the opposition quality. Joshua Frankham is a more composed boxer, using his jab well to dominate the centre of the ring. There’s an overreliance on the right hand to damage opponents, but there’s a lot to get excited about for this prospect.
Joe Hardy (2-4)
Aside from a couple of routine wins over journeymen, Joe Hardy has not had much luck over green prospects. Joshua Frankham represents the strongest upcomer he has faced so far, but it’s worth nothing that Hardy can crack – having knocked down Craig Miles last year.
Frankham vs Hardy Prediction: Frankham TKO Round 2
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Khalid Ali vs Ivica Gogosevic
Welterweight (147)
Khalid Ali (4-0, 2KOs)
The Bengal Tiger Khalid Ali has a growing Bengali expat fanbase behind him. Ali tends to smother his work and head-hunt, but he is an entertaining slugger that loves to brawl.
Ivica Gogosevic (12-44-2, 5KOs)
It is strange that the BBBC would sanction a 38-year-old journeyman with 11KOs to their name. Ivica Gogosevic last won in 2015 at the ‘Joker Gym’ in Croatia over a 0-2 can. The Croat is out-of-shape, miniscule for the weight class and a case of walking CTE at this point in his career.
Ali vs Gogosevic Prediction: Ali TKO Round 2
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Moses Itauma vs Marcel Bode
Heavyweight (200+)
Moses Itauma (DEBUT)
Karol Itauma may have enjoyed a successful head start to his professional career, but many analysts believe that brother Moses will reach the sport’s summit earlier. Moses has shared rounds with Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce, with talk from the camps suggesting that the UK has another Heavyweight star on its way.
Marcel Bode (2-1, 2KOs)
After twice beating the same Czech man, Marcel Bode ended 2022 with a two-round staunching at the hands of Habib Vuqiterna in Austria. From the footage against Jan Milota, Bode is extremely sluggish and leaves his chin on a platter when throwing.
Itauma vs Bode Prediction: Itauma TKO Round 1
Return to Beterbiev vs Yarde Fight Card
TIPPING JAR
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