Does Anthony Yarde belong there with the likes of Artur Beterbiev, Joe Smith Jr, or Joshua Buatsi after defeating Lyndon Arthur?
After Anthony Yarde’s 4th round knockout win in December 2021 over Lyndon Arthur, Bob Arum made a promise to Frank Warren that he will fight the winner of Bertebiev vs Smith Jr on June 18th in New York City for 3 of the 4 major belts (WBC, IBF, WBO) in the rigorously contested division.
Hall of fame promoter Arum stated in a February interview with UniBet that he would potentially be bringing the winner over to London for the bout. Only time will tell if this comes to fruition…
But now he believes he is more than ready to dethrone the current light heavyweight champions.
The Light Heavyweight Landscape: Beterbiev’s Dominance and Yarde’s Pursuit
The light heavyweight division has seen significant shifts and thrilling encounters since early 2022, with key matchups shaping the hierarchy at 175 lbs. The highly anticipated unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr., which Bob Arum referenced, took place as scheduled on June 18, 2022, at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.
Artur Beterbiev, then holding the WBC and IBF titles with a perfect knockout record of 17-0, faced WBO champion Joe Smith Jr., who entered the ring with a record of 28-3. The fight proved to be a display of Beterbiev’s devastating power, as he dominated from the outset. Beterbiev knocked Smith Jr. down three times in the opening two rounds, ultimately securing a technical knockout victory in the second round. This decisive win unified the WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles under Beterbiev, solidifying his position as a formidable force in the division.
Following this victory, Beterbiev addressed the prospect of facing Anthony Yarde, who was the mandatory challenger for the WBO title. Despite Arum’s earlier promise, Beterbiev expressed a preference for a full undisputed championship clash against WBA (Super) champion Dmitry Bivol, stating, “Unification fights are more interesting and motivating, I would prefer to be undisputed.” However, the WBO mandatory status meant that a fight with Yarde was still on the horizon, with promoter Frank Warren confirming an agreement with Bob Arum for the two to fight, likely in London.
Anthony Yarde’s Journey and the Beterbiev Challenge
Anthony Yarde’s career continued its upward trajectory after his emphatic fourth-round knockout of Lyndon Arthur in December 2021, a victory that avenged his earlier split decision loss to Arthur in December 2020. This victory positioned Yarde for the world title opportunity that Bob Arum had discussed. Yarde’s record stood at 22 wins and 2 losses, with 21 of his wins coming by knockout, showcasing his significant punching power.
The highly anticipated clash between Anthony Yarde and Artur Beterbiev eventually took place on January 28, 2023, in London. Yarde, fighting in front of his home crowd, put forth a brave and spirited effort against the unified champion. However, Beterbiev’s relentless pressure and power proved too much for Yarde, with the Russian-Canadian champion securing an eighth-round technical knockout victory to retain his WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. This marked Yarde’s second attempt at a world title, having previously challenged Sergey Kovalev in 2019.
After the Beterbiev fight, Yarde continued to compete, aiming to rebuild towards another world title shot. He engaged in a trilogy bout with Lyndon Arthur on April 26, 2025, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In a closely contested fight, Yarde emerged victorious by unanimous decision with scorecards of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113, settling their rivalry with Yarde leading the series 2-1. Yarde’s subsequent fights in 2024 included a TKO win over Marko Nikolic and a unanimous decision over Ralfs Vilcans. He also faced David Benavidez in November 2025, suffering a TKO loss in the 7th round.
The Evolving Light Heavyweight Throne: Bivol, Beterbiev, and Benavidez
The light heavyweight division has remained one of boxing’s most compelling weight classes, with the pursuit of an undisputed champion at its core. Dmitry Bivol, who famously defeated Canelo Alvarez on May 7, 2022, continued his reign as WBA (Super) champion. After the Canelo victory, Bivol expressed his ambition to become the undisputed champion, though an immediate rematch with Alvarez did not materialize as Canelo opted for a trilogy bout with Gennady Golovkin.
Bivol went on to defend his WBA (Super) title against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in November 2022, securing a dominant unanimous decision victory. He then faced Lyndon Arthur in December 2023, winning the WBA and IBO titles. Bivol further cemented his status with a win over Malik Zinad in June 2024.
The much-anticipated clash for undisputed status between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol eventually occurred. Artur Beterbiev held the undisputed light heavyweight championship between 2024 and 2025. However, he subsequently lost to Dmitry Bivol by majority decision in their first encounter for the undisputed championship. In an immediate rematch, Bivol then lost to Beterbiev, also by majority decision. This back-and-forth for the undisputed crown highlights the elite competition at the top of the division.
As of May 2026, the light heavyweight division is once again fragmented. Dmitry Bivol currently holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring titles, while David Benavidez has emerged as a significant player, holding the WBC Light Heavyweight title since April 2025 and the WBA (Regular) title since February 2025. Joe Smith Jr., after his loss to Beterbiev, secured a first-round knockout victory over Melvin Russell in June 2023, but has been less active since. The division remains tightly contested, with several elite fighters vying for supremacy and the potential for future unification bouts to once again crown an undisputed king at 175 lbs. Joshua Buatsi also remains a prominent name in the division, with Yarde recently expressing interest in a domestic clash against him.
