Yarde Promises “Big Upset” vs Benavidez – Fans Doubt It

Anthony Yarde predicts he will cause a big “upset” against WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez in their main event on November 22, 2025 in Riyadh. The oddsmakers have it 10-1 to 11-1 in favor of the undefeated ‘Mexican Monster’ Benavide (30-0, 24 KOs).

The Queensberry-promoted Yarde needs to raise his game significantly to pull off a miracle over the much younger 28-year-old Benavidez. If not, this fight will end early, and the boxing fans who paid $59.99 to order the event on DAZN PPV will feel like they were sold a bad piece of merchandise.

The co-main event for the November 22nd event, between Devin Haney and WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr., feels more like the main event than the Benavidez-Yarde fight.

Tom Galm’s Fight Game Reality: A Bout Nobody Asked For

“It’s going to be a big upset. The way we both fight, it’s guaranteed to be a good fight,” Anthony Yarde said. InsideRingShow about his title challenge against WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez in 32 days on November 22.

Fans deserve better than this for PPV. It’s fine if Benavidez comes off a loss to use Yarde as a confidence builder, but not now.

Turki Alalshikh selected his #3 WBA, #4 WBC ranked Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) for this title shot against Bensvidez. The choice has created a backlash among fans on social media, who feel the 34-year-old Yarde should not be given another world title shot after falling two years ago in his eighth-round knockout loss to IBF, WBC and WBO 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev on January 28, 2023.

Yarde bounced back from that loss to defeat these four mostly unknown opponents: Lyndon Arthur, Ralfs Vilcans, Marko Nikolic and Jorge Silva.

The 34-year-old Lyndon (24-3, 16 KOs) is a decent fighter, but he recently lost a wide 12-round unanimous decision to Dmitry Bivol on December 23, 2023 by scores of 120-107, 120-107 and 120-107.

Bottom Line: Benavidez needs danger again

Anything but Yarde would be preferable. A rematch with David Morrell would have been bearable for boxing fans to watch on PPV, but not for Yarde. It’s too easy for Benavidez and not even sportsmanlike. It’s like hunting with the prey standing right in front of you.

American fans wanted to see ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez fight Artur Beterbiev or Bivol for the 22nd meeting, not two-time world title challenger failure Yarde. They saw Benavidez involved in these four consecutive fights on pay-per-view that didn’t pan out:

• David Morrell
• Oleksandr Gvozdyk
• Demetrius Andrade
• Caleb Plant