Power-punching Yarde wants british title

(Photo: Frank Warren Promotions)

Hard-hitting Light Heavyweight talent Anthony Yarde wants to fast-track towards the British title.

The Ilford puncher already has a fearsome reputation as one of the division’s most powerful punchers and will be gunning for another knockout performance when he takes on Slovakia’s unbeaten Robert Kertesz at York Hall on Friday 25th March, exclusively live on BoxNation.

The Tunde Ajayi-trained demolition man was forced to join the professional code simply to secure competition after eleven big knockouts from twelve amateur fights left rivals running scared. However, the 23-year-old says there’s much more to his game than explosive power and will looking to showcase his varied skill set to the BoxNation viewers on his return to York Hall.

He said: “I’m known as a big puncher because I’ve knocked out so many of my opponents but I think my accuracy is just as lethal. I hit people clean and when you’re boxing at this weight you’re usually going to knock them out or drop them if you catch them well. I make sure I take my time when I’m finishing off my opponents,”

“I’ve got quick hands and sharp reactions. I don’t really go in to fights focusing on hitting people hard, I just try and stay relaxed and throw accurate punches and so far it’s paid off.”

Chief-support of the night’s main event sees Chingford’s Tom Baker takes on Margate’s Jack Morris for the Vacant English Light-Heavyweight title and the confident Yarde is already planning his route to the very top of the domestic light-heavy scene.

“This is boxing and it’s a competitive sport at the end of the day. Like most boxers my main aspiration is to become the world champion so if you’re in my weight class then eventually I’m going to beat you to get to where I want to be. To get there I’m going to have to go through the domestic scene so the British belt could be one of my first titles in England,” said Yarde.

He added: “To be honest I don’t really look at any other boxers. I try and focus on myself because I believe the only person that can defeat me right now is myself. I train hard and I have the skills and ability so the only person that can let me down is myself. All I’m focused on doing is improving every day.”

Naturally perhaps, comparisons between Yarde and Ilford’s former world champion Nigel ‘Dark Destroyer’ Benn have been made and while the Peacock Gym man is flattered, his sole focus for now is racking up the wins and ring experience.

He said: “My ambition for the year is to keep on winning my fights in a good fashion. I’ve won three of my first four fights by knockout with two of them coming in the first round; I’m looking to keep that kind of ratio going. I’m not going in to fights looking for knockouts but I think it looks good and shows you’re leagues above your opponent so I just want to keep on fighting like that moving forward.”

Main event on the card see Gary Corcoran and Danny Butler collide for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Junior Middleweight Championship and chief-support features Tom Baker and Jack Morris clash for the Vacant English Light-Heavyweight Championship.  On the undercard, some of the best young prospects continue in their careers: unbeaten light-welterweight ace Romeo Romaeo takes on Prague’s Michal Dufek over eight rounds; Chingford super-featherweight Boy Jones Jnr and Dagenham lightweight Ediz Hussein, both in separate six rounders; West Ham super-welterweight Sammy McNess, Ilford light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde; Welling lightweight Archie Sharp; Chelmsford super-middleweight Billy Long and Sidcup super-featherweight D.P Carr, all compete over four rounds.

Tickets priced at  £40 (Unreserved) and £60 (Reserved) are available from Eventim at www.eventim.co.uk or 0844 249 1000 and Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 844 0444.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 415 and Freeview 255.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  or watch online at watch.boxnation.com and via iPhone, iPad or Android and Amazon devices.