Buglioni was mandated to fight Callum Johnson, a better fighter than Yarde. So you can hardly say he "turned it down". Monaghan chose to fight Sullivan Barrera instead. Again, a better fighter than Yarde. Meanwhile Yarde has turned down Kovalev, Beterbiev, Barrera, Buatsi, Johnson and Burton. Yarde was even confronted face to face by team Burton. He then did that ridiculous IFL interview where he said there was nothing in the Burton fight for him???
Why is Johnson a better fighter than Yarde? His record is nothing special at all. Warren tried to get Buglioni for around Yardes 9th fight - he then came back later and offered the £130k (initially £120 then raised publicly by Warren an extra £10k) long before Buglioni was mandated to fight Johnson. Moynahan admitted on Twitter in an exchange that he was close to fighting Yarde and was offered more money, but he choose Barrera. Hearn had no intention of Buatsi facing Yarde, we know it’s unlikely due to network politics anyway. Only an imbecile would suggest Yarde taking the Kovalev/ Beterbiev fights at the time was a realistic or reasonable fight. Those guys have about 250+ amature fights each and in the case of Kovalev in particular is a seasoned professional. You say he turned down Barrera but how so? Was he made some kind of formal offer...I don’t think Barrera even has a promoter ffs. A fighter going on twitter to ask for the fight is not ducking, unless it’s a dustup in the pub he was offering not a professional fight which requires a promoter to put on. The Burton interview/confrontatuon was cringeworthy and I was heavily critical of Yardes supposed stance on the fight. If it can happen, then it would make very good sense, however Burton seems all talk to me and very inactive. There’s always rumours about him disappearing from the gym/falling out with Gallagher etc...there’s clearly a reason why Hearn struggles to do anything with him.
Geez if Anthony Yarde's opposition has been poor then no words can describe Lyndon Arthur's opposition so far. I like Yarde, but know that he's not ready for Kovalev and so does his team. Yarde virtually admitted that he won't be fighting Kovalev anytime soon by saying that he's 3 years into a 10 year career so expect him to keep being tracked along at a slow pace for the next little while. Having said that, I wouldn't mind seeing him maybe step it up to Euro level sometime this year.
Correct, but Lyndon isn't rammed down our throats as the best thing since sliced bread mate. Casuals fans will have never even heard of him.
I wonder if there's some tension between Frank, BT Sport and Yarde's team? Warren is saying stuff like 'he will fight better against better opposition' as if he was trying to signal that he isn't the blocker. On Fridays show there was a clear signal that BT sport ware aware of some of the reservations amongst fans. Bunce did his cheerleading act, Haye wittered on, but Richie Woodhall, the most thoughtful guy amongst the panel tried to give his endorsement but is clearly unconvinced.
I'd say so. I don't actually think that Warren is to blame for his low level opposition as I feel that he wants to step him up a bit quicker but Yarde's team seem quite happy to play the long game judging by some of the things they say such as the usual I only had 12 amateur fights, I'm only 3 years into a 10+ year career etc.
There's plenty if fighters who had less than 12 am fights and went on to do big things. Iirc Jason Sosa won a world title with less than half of yarde am fights. Nick Blackwell had no am experience. That excuse is wearing a bit thin now from yarde and tunde. If you want to hang fire a nd take your progression slowly, I've no probs with that, just call it as it is.
I think a high percentage of fighters with no real amateur experience don’t really go on to achieve much in their careers. I know there’s the odd case, someone mentioned Whyte earlier but he is in the heavyweight division where you can arguably get away with a lack of fundamental skills if you can punch hard. Plus he was a kickboxer too. Ohara Davies is someone who springs to mind who got found out a couple of times to be lacking in the fundamentals gained from an amateur career. Eubank Jn has done alright for himself but at the highest level you can see the flaws. Yarde needs to be stepped up. Not necessarily thrown in like Davies was with Taylor or Junior with BJS but he needs a step up in levels now.
What Yarde's saying is absolutely ridiculous ''Canelo had over 30 fights before he came on the radar'', well Canelo turned professional at age 15. ''Deontay Wilder had over 30 fights'' and Wilder has been heavily criticised for fighting a smorgasbord of journey-men. Yarde needs to stop the excuses.
I'm not a fan of Yarde but I personally don't mind the slow progress. He hasn't had an amateur career and it's easy to say "so what" on an internet forum but that's significant in a fighters career. Others may have been moved quicker but that's not to say it's the blue print for fighters without amateur experience. If I'm Yarde's trainer, I'm taking my time with him. At 27, there's no rush for a light heavyweight. I think what's frustrating people more is the big talk and little deliverance. He'll have no choice but to step up soon and when he does, I'm sure all these straightforward fights will have helped.
Yarde would destroy Burton. I'm not sure why that fight hasn't been made, i can only assume Burton wants a big purse and that's why Hearn can't make Burton vs Buatsi.
I agree with everything you say except your last point. These fights aren't really helping him progress - he's fighting the same, ****, defensive / scared style who aren't giving him anything to think about. He needs some British level and even English level fighters to test him. Give him a puncher one fight, a slickster another fighter and a spoiler, so when he does step up, he's seen a good variety of styles. Knocking out shepherds who all fight the same way does naff all for him.
