This morning I've been mulling over the performances of Yarde and Dubois against Kovalev and Joyce respectively. Both feasted successfully on cab drivers and bouncers before coming up short when taking on a good opponent. Dubois was at least contesting a tight scorecard yet I can't help believing Yarde's was the more credible performance. Despite scarcely landing for long spells, he stuck at it and almost got Kovalev out of there before gassing and going out on his shield - albeit to a jab like Daniel! Dubois was trembling with anxiety from the 3rd round like a flat track bully who knows he's met his match. From the first bell he was getting jabbed in the face incessantly but never attempted anything to remedy this. And let's be honest, from cab driver to Kovalev, even an aging one, is many more steps than from Gorman to Joyce. On balance and with the heart he displayed, I think Yarde's was the more credible performance.
In fairness to Yarde, he very nearly had Kovalev out of there - despite the incredibly **** and bias BT commentary, Joyce was never in trouble and was coasting.
I’d say Yarde because of the manner of the fight. He went out to Russia on his own with a very small team. Was ridiculed by boxing fans back home and as pointed out above nearly had Kovalev out of there. His game plan, slate it if you want, was actually put in practice and nearly came off. Dubois yesterday didn’t seem to have a gameplan beyond knocking Joyce out and failed to make an adjustment to deal with that jab which caused the stoppage.
Yarde I'd say. He didn't have the hype that Dubois did and just came up short against a very good fighter in Kovalev and fought in Russia. He deserves credit for that.
These were Frank Warrens two big hopes he was pushing lol. Both were embarrassing , both got exposed. Dubois won more rounds, but Yarde went out on his shield getting knocked out by a jab. There's really nothing more shameful in boxing than quitting. So I'd have to say Yardes was more credible despite him getting completely outclassed knocked out and only winning a round.
I'm still shouting "Lions" at my cat most mornings when I'm making breakfast, that's all the information anyone will ever need from me on this subject.
Yarde nearly stopped Kovalev. But he lost every other round. Dubois was massively in the fight but didn’t have Joyce in the trouble that Kovalev did. Hard call.
I’d say Dubois. Yarde was clearly outclassed every round bar one and then stopped. Dubois was sort of outclassed at times but he was picking up rounds, it was close and you could make an argument for him quitting because of the injury.
The frustrating thing with Yarde if had 2 or 3 learning fights where had to learn to pace things, buy himself time etc etc. He could have genuinely beaten Kovalev. The world and his wife were asking him to take on tougher opponents before going for a belt and the truth was laid bare. Exhausted after putting all his eggs in one basket and getting done with a jab. Still going someone as alien as russia against a top opponent as to be applauded