The Boxing Mad Man

Boxing loves a trilogy.

There’s something inherently dramatic about two fighters locked in a rivalry that demands a decisive third act. When the score stands level at one win apiece, the rubber match becomes less about just winning a fight and more about defining legacies, settling debates, and charting the future course of two careers.

This Saturday, April 26th, 2025, we get exactly that kind of high-stakes drama as Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur prepare to collide for the third, and likely final, time. Adding to the occasion, this pivotal light heavyweight clash unfolds under the bright lights of the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, serving as chief support to the explosive Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn encounter, all live on DAZN PPV.

Forget the main event for a moment; for many hardcore UK fight fans, Yarde-Arthur III is where the real, tangible P4P implications lie.

It’s a rivalry that has simmered for years, rooted in contrasting styles and punctuated by definitive, yet opposing, outcomes in their first two meetings. Pride isn’t just on the line; it’s woven into the fabric of this fight. Add crucial world rankings and the burning desire for another shot at global glory, and you have a recipe for a potentially classic encounter. So, how did this story unfold, what have these fighters been through since their last meeting, and why does this third chapter feel so significant right now?

Let’s rewind to December 5th, 2020. The setting was the unique, somewhat sterile environment of Church House in London, dictated by pandemic restrictions. Anthony Yarde, the explosive power-puncher from East London, entered the ring as the clear favourite. Lyndon ‘King’ Arthur, the slick boxer from Manchester, was seen by many as a capable domestic operator but perhaps lacking the X-factor to derail ‘The Beast’. What transpired over 12 rounds confounded expectations. Arthur produced a career-best performance built entirely around his superb left jab. It was a piston-like weapon, fired relentlessly, controlling the distance, disrupting Yarde’s rhythm, and preventing him from setting his feet to unleash his vaunted power. Yarde looked uncharacteristically hesitant, almost passive. While he later spoke movingly about the devastating personal losses he’d suffered due to Covid-19 impacting his mental state, tactically, he seemed unable to adapt or find a way inside Arthur’s ramrod defence. Round after round, Arthur banked points, frustrating his opponent and the viewers expecting fireworks. The judges were split, but the decision rightly went Arthur’s way. He retained his Commonwealth title and added the vacant WBO Inter-Continental strap, pulling off a significant upset and throwing Yarde’s world title trajectory into question.

The narrative immediately shifted. Was Yarde overrated? Had Arthur been underestimated? The demand for a rematch was instant, fuelled by Yarde’s insistence that the real Anthony Yarde hadn’t shown up. He promised revenge, and exactly 364 days later, on December 4th, 2021, at the Copper Box Arena, he delivered. From the opening bell, this was a different Anthony Yarde. Gone was the hesitancy; replaced by focused, intelligent aggression. He wasn’t just winging power shots; he was cutting off the ring, working the body, and systematically dismantling the jab that had befuddled him a year prior. Arthur, perhaps expecting a similar pattern, seemed unprepared for the ferocity and calculated pressure coming his way. Yarde targeted the body relentlessly, visibly hurting Arthur and slowing his movement. In the fourth round, Yarde trapped Arthur on the ropes and unloaded a vicious volley of punches. Arthur crumpled to the canvas, unable to beat the count. The referee waved it off. Yarde roared in triumph, the score emphatically levelled at 1-1, reclaiming the same Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental titles he’d lost. The rivalry had its balance, setting the stage perfectly for an eventual decider.

However, that decider has taken nearly three and a half years to materialise. In the interim, both fighters have navigated the treacherous waters of the light heavyweight division, tasting both success and bitter disappointment at the world level. Anthony Yarde secured his mandatory position and challenged the fearsome unified champion Artur Beterbiev in January 2023. In a thrilling, back-and-forth contest at Wembley Arena, Yarde displayed incredible heart and courage, troubling the champion and landing significant punches. He was arguably up on some scorecards before Beterbiev’s relentless pressure and concussive power eventually told in the eighth round, forcing Yarde’s corner to rightly signal the end. Despite the TKO loss, Yarde emerged with immense credit, proving he belonged at the elite level. Since then, he’s rebuilt patiently, dispatching Jorge Silva and Marko Nikolic via early KOs before outpointing the durable Ralfs Vilcans last October.

Lyndon Arthur also earned his shot at the top tier. After rebuilding with wins over Walter Gabriel Sequeira and Joel McIntyre, he captured the vacant IBO world title with a dramatic late knockout of Braian Nahuel Suarez in September 2023. This propelled him into a unification fight against WBA Super Champion Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia just before Christmas 2023, as part of the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card. Facing one of the modern masters of boxing, Arthur found himself thoroughly outclassed. Bivol’s sublime footwork, hand speed, and ring intelligence proved too much, resulting in a shutout points decision loss for Arthur, though he showed toughness to survive a late knockdown and hear the final bell. Like Yarde, Arthur sought to bounce back, returning in June 2024 to edge out Liam Cameron via split decision, picking up the WBA Inter-Continental title in the process.

And so, here we are. Two fighters, both now 33 years old, both battle-hardened by world championship experiences, both knowing that this third fight is likely their best, perhaps last, chance to force their way back into genuine world title contention. The landscape they survey is dominated by the masterful Dmitry Bivol, who recently unified further by beating Beterbiev and holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, and the dangerous David Benavidez, the new WBC champion who moved up from super middleweight. Below them sits a chasing pack brimming with talent – Joshua Buatsi, David Morrell, Albert Ramirez, Callum Smith, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Willy Hutchinson – all vying for position. The winner of Yarde vs Arthur III doesn’t just gain bragging rights; they gain crucial leverage and momentum in arguably boxing’s most competitive division right now.

What will decide it? It’s the classic power vs skill dynamic, revisited. Yarde needs to replicate the intelligent pressure he applied in the rematch. He must use feints, cut off the ring effectively, and punish Arthur’s body to slow him down before unleashing those fight-ending shots upstairs. He cannot afford to simply follow Arthur around or wait too long, as he did in their first meeting. The Beterbiev fight showed his heart is undeniable, but also perhaps reinforced questions about his stamina over 12 hard rounds, although his recent points win over Vilcans suggests improvement there.

For Arthur, the blueprint remains the jab. It has to be sharp, consistent, and commanding from the outset. He needs impeccable footwork to control the range, frustrate Yarde, and avoid getting trapped on the ropes. He showed immense toughness against Bivol but lacked the offensive output to trouble him. Against Yarde, he needs to be busier, perhaps incorporating more right hands and combinations off the jab, without lingering in punching range. He must prove the knockout loss in the rematch was an anomaly and that his chin can withstand Yarde’s power if he sticks rigidly to his game plan. He has spoken about being “lackadaisical” in the past and vows that won’t happen this time.

Beyond the tactical battle, there are the intangibles. The pressure of a trilogy can weigh heavily. Who handles the unique atmosphere of a stadium fight better? Both men have faced down adversity in world title fights; has that experience forged greater resilience or left deeper scars? Yarde seems to feed off the big occasion, while Arthur is perhaps the more reserved character. How these psychological factors play out could be just as important as the physical contest.

The winner catapults themselves right back into the mix. A huge domestic clash with Joshua Buatsi, long talked about, becomes a very real possibility. Depending on rankings and boxing politics, a shot at one of the champions or a final eliminator against another top contender isn’t out of the question. They stay relevant, they stay in the conversation, they keep the dream alive.

For the loser, the road ahead looks considerably tougher. Another defeat, especially to a domestic rival, significantly damages their standing. Rebuilding becomes a longer, harder process, and the window for securing another world title opportunity narrows considerably. It’s not necessarily career-ending, but it represents a monumental hurdle to overcome.

This Saturday, therefore, offers more than just another fight. It’s the culmination of a rivalry, a test of wills, a battle for future relevance. Will it be Yarde’s power and aggression that prevails once more, or can Arthur’s boxing skill and discipline regain the upper hand? It’s a fascinating clash that promises tension, drama, and potentially explosive action.

Whatever happens under the lights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the story of Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur will have its definitive final chapter written.

Who do you see taking it? Let the debate begin…