Yarde may become Kovalev mandatory...

If this fight does happen, Frank will make sure Terry O'Connor is named the referee. That way, at the end of first round, O'Connor can carry Yarde back to his corner, just like O'Connor did with Cleverley when Kovalev came to Wales and destroyed him.

 

It would be a complete joke if he manages to get to the mandatory position from continuing to fight at his current level of opposition.

In reality all of the top 10 in the division would beat him.

 

I never get tired of re watching that incident with Cleverly and Terry O'Connor.

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It always serves as a poignant reminder of the high level of British bias in favor of home fighters. We know had kovalev been backed against the ropes in that fight, the pig would have waved it off without hestitation. Yet Cleverly was giving every indication that he wanted no more, yet Connor didn't want to accept that his boy was beaten, so dragged him back to his corner in desperate belief that he could come back after some rest.

I often use that as example to drum home the point that when away fighters come to Britain, they better be prepared to fight two men in the ring.

And it's why I laugh when people try to paint farcical stoppages like the ones with Joshua vs Wladimir and Takum as fair.