David Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) did what many fans expected him to do, annihilating #4 Anthony Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs) by a seventh-round knockout to retain his WBC light heavyweight title on Saturday night in the headliner of the stacked Ring IV event at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Benavidez Turns Up the Heat
‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez fought at times like he was purposefully holding back, allowing the powerful but overmatched challenger Yarde to have his moments in the fight. But when he turned it on, it was effortless with how he buried the British fighter with rapid-fire combinations.
In round seven, Benavidez came alive after Yarde nailed him with some hard right hands early on. He let loose a flurry of shots that bloodied Yarde’s nose, cutting and causing his lips to swell. After absorbing what appeared to be 15 consecutive headshots, Yarde sank to the canvas. Benavidez got a little overanxious and nailed him with a shot while he was down.
The referee stopped the action, took a point for the illegal blow by Benavidez. When the action resumed, Benavidez finished off the bloodied Yarde with another unanswered flurry to get a stoppage. The time was 1:59 of round seven.
Illegal Shots Go Unpunished
In the fourth round, Benavidez had gotten away with some illegal shots when he held Yarde around the neck with one arm and nailed him with 10 consecutive headshots without the referee stepping in to stop the illegal move. The only reason Benavidez stopped is that the round ended. That was hard to watch Benavidez get away with so many illegal blows in a fight that he was heavily favored to win.
Yarde’s Brave but Outgunned
Yarde showed superior power in the contest, landing hard punches in every round. His problem was that he was limited to throwing single shots, which were no match for the speedy combinations that Benavidez was hitting him with. Benavidez was motioning him to land to his head and body. Yarde was obliging, but he couldn’t match the return fire from the Mexican Monster when he turned on his offense.
After the fight, Benavidez revealed that he’ll be moving up to cruiserweight to face WBA and WBO champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez next in 2026.