British light heavyweight Anthony Yarde’s third chance at a world title ended in heartbreak again after a systematic beating by WBC champion David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia.
After a slow start, American Benavidez took control and sent the 34-year-old Yarde to the canvas with a barrage in the seventh.
With blood pouring from Yarde’s nose and scattering across the canvas, another heavy flurry of punches with a minute left in the round forced the referee to stop the fight.
“I stayed there. I’m a fighter,” Yarde told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I felt like he was competitive. I know how he comes with good pressure. I was boxing, boxing, thinking about the middle rounds, the dog rounds, we would trade.
“He has quick hands, he caught me first and gave me a good hit on the nose. When I knelt down and he hit me when I was on the ground, I got dizzy after that.”
Benavidez was deducted two points for punches while Yarde was on the ground, but the result was already inevitable.
The Londoner, who previously lost in world championship fights to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022, may now have to accept the possibility of a world title slipping away.
Benavidez, 28, remains undefeated and extends his record to a formidable 25 knockouts in 31 victories.
After the fight, Benavidez, of Mexican descent, revealed that he plans to move up to cruiserweight to challenge Mexican Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2, with the goal of becoming a three-weight world champion.
