Britain’s Anthony Yarde has vowed to turn “his belief into reality” and upset Artur Beterbiev to take his IBF, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight belts.
“It’s the right time for me. I started from scratch and if I have an opportunity, I take it,” Yarde said.
Born in Russia, Beterbiev, who now lives in Canada, has won all of his 18 bouts from distance – the only current world champion to do so.
“I have to stop fighting monsters but I got into this sport to fight the best,” added Londoner Yarde. “Lions have no choice but to hunt if they are hungry.
“Since I started boxing, I haven’t spent more than a week out of the gym. Beterbiev has had over 200 amateur fights and 18 professional fights, but I’m going to be sharp and focused.
“In the light-heavyweight division he’s been just a wrecking ball, knocking out every opponent so far. He’s very powerful but I feel like I’m faster and, as I age, I’m fresher, but in experience I’m behind him.”
This will be Beterbiev’s first professional fight in Britain, but he has fought a British fighter before – beat Callum Johnson via a fourth-round knockout in Chicago in October 2018 – despite being knocked down for the first time in his career.
“Anthony Yarde is a good fighter, he’s strong – he’s a bodybuilder,” Beterbiev said.
“I respect him and respect all my opponents…be prepared.”
For Yarde, it will be his second attempt to win a world title after being stopped in the 11th round in a fight against the Russian Sergey Kovalev for the WBO belt in August 2019.
“I have a second chance and the last time I didn’t feel the right moment,” he added.
“I was a rising prospect and I only had 18 fights after 12 amateurs and I was dumped.
“My career started at Wembley Arena and it’s never been done before, a unification fight, with a British light heavyweight fighter coming up against a world champion on British soil.
“When I hear ‘and the new’, my belief will come true, so that’s what I can’t wait to hear.”
Their press conference took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Tyson Fury beat Derek Chisora to retain the WBC heavyweight belt on Saturday.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum, managing director of Top Rank who promotes Beterbiev, added: “I’ve promoted great light heavyweights but I’ve never seen anyone with the power and skill of Artur Beterbiev.
“He really is something special. He’s a terrific hitter and it will take an incredible performance from an opponent to be able to beat him.”
