Is third time a charm?

Anthony Yarde will attempt to defy the odds for a third time when he challenges unbeaten WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old Londoner has been here before, having suffered stoppage defeats in spirited efforts against Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2023. After rebuilding with four victories, including an April win over Lyndon Arthur, Yarde insists he is now a different fighter.

Yarde believes experience is the missing piece that cost him in both previous title attempts. He was competitive in each, lasting 11 rounds with Kovalev and even leading on two scorecards against Beterbiev before being stopped. “I’m sick and tired of being the guy who gives people great fights, but loses,” he said. “The main difference now is experience. Fighting Beterbiev helped make me a better fighter, no doubt.”

His respect for Benavidez is clear, though he acknowledges the American’s reputation differs from his past opponents. Benavidez survived a late knockdown to beat David Morrell in February and will make his first defense of the WBC belt in Riyadh. “On paper he’s not as dangerous as Beterbiev or Kovalev were, but you don’t know how dangerous a puncher someone is until you get in the ring with them,” Yarde noted, praising Benavidez’s willingness to face all comers.

Yarde also believes his performance against Beterbiev revealed vulnerabilities others have since tried to exploit, pointing to Dmitry Bivol’s decision to fight the Russian champion. “Until then we had never seen him get hit as much or be pushed back like I was able to,” he said. Those lessons, Yarde argues, have shaped a more composed and tactically aware fighter.

Now, with personal stakes as high as ever, Yarde sees this as the moment everything can change. “After all the things I have been through in life, this fight could change my life,” he said. Underdog again or not, Yarde enters Riyadh believing that this time, experience and determination will finally take him over the line.