MUHAMMAD ALI (9st 8lb 4oz) v JAMIE QUINN (9st 11lb 5oz)
FIGHT #2
KAROL ITAUMA (12st 12lb 3oz) v LEWIS VAN POETSCH (12st 10lb 9oz)
FIGHT #3
CHRIS BOURKE (8st 9lb 4oz) v MICHAEL RAMABELETSA (8st 8lb 8oz)
FIGHT #4
DENNIS MCCANN (8st 8lb 4oz) v PEDRO MATOS (8st 7lb 9oz)
FIGHT #5
ANTHONY YARDE (12st 6lb 5oz) v LYNDON ARTHUR (12st 6lb 3oz)
Anthony Yarde (19-1, 18KOs) vs Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12KOs) for the Commonwealth light heavyweight title headlines a night of boxing live on BT Sport 1 on Saturday, which also features a super bantamweight battle with the WBC International title at stake between Michael Ramabeletsa (18-17, 8KOs) and the unbeaten Southern Area champion Chris Bourke (8-0, 5KOs).
Bantamweight starlet Dennis McCann (7-0, 5KOs) takes on Pedro Matos (7-3) over eight rounds. 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali has his second fight in the pro ranks and there is a debut for Olympic Youth gold medallist Karol Itauma.
ANTHONY YARDE PROMISES EXCITING FIGHT + GUARANTEES HE’LL KNOCK LYNDON ARTHUR OUT
ANTHONY YARDE IS vowing to wow a bumper television audience when he finally gets to trade blows with light heavyweight rival Lyndon Arthur in Westminster on Saturday.
The Lion – aka the Beast – will be looking to overthrow King Arthur and seize the Commonwealth throne at Church House in a long-awaited collision that will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
Eagerly anticipated clashes such as this one do not always live up to their explosive billing, with the ring warfare sometimes turning more tactical rather than open.
Yarde insists tactical maneuvers are not for him and he will be seeking to inflict a show-stopping finish on his unbeaten opponent from Manchester
“We will have to see on the night,” considered the 2019 world title challenger. “I am always looking to have a spectacular fight, always, always. I don’t like boring, I don’t like looking back and seeing boring. Everybody knows I am a big critic of myself and if I get hit too much when I don’t need to get hit then I am going to criticise myself. If I don’t hit a person enough when I could have I will criticise myself. If I am not as sharp as I can be, I will criticise myself.
“So it is about just getting a good performance out of myself. I only focus on myself.
“The fight is going to be entertaining, one hundred percent. I am looking to land shots I have been working on, to apply pressure, I am looking to do everything that is necessary to get the knockout victory.”
Arthur, 29, who became Commonwealth champion by defeating Emmanuel Anim in 2019, famously possesses the gift of the jab, but Yarde can only envision the 17-0 Team GB graduate failing to negate his own weapons Arsenal and ending up on the canvas.
“I just picture establishing my own offence and winning the fight by knockout. Everybody knows I don’t predict rounds, but I do predict winning the fight by knockout. I’ve got 12 rounds to do it, that is 36 minutes and in my opinion that is a long time.
“For me, in my mind, it is inevitable. It is just when I get the knockout victory.”
Yarde’s confidence in his KO-artistry is not without foundation, with 19 of his 20 winning performances ending via stoppage. It is tempting to imagine that after accepting a mission to far-flung Chelyabinsk to take on a Russian legend on his home patch, domestic assignments must seem far less daunting.
The 29-year-old Ilford man says he is employing the same thought process in taking on Arthur as he did in attempting to topple the formidable Sergey Kovalev.
“If you listened to me before the Kovalev fight, I wasn’t talking to sell the fight. I am just very confident in myself and even before I started boxing I knew I had something. I knew I could fight, I knew I could throw punches, I knew I had something a lot of people ain’t got.
“That is not blowing smoke up myself, it is just having confidence in myself. I said I was going out there to knock Kovalev out and people were like ‘this guy is crazy’. I didn’t say it was going to be easy, I said I was going to do it and I almost pulled it off. In my opinion it was the only way I was going to win that fight in Russia because I wasn’t going to win by decision, even if I did win it technically.
“So I openly said I was going to win by knockout and I nearly did but there was just little things, little differences. Sometimes it is just one punch in boxing and it is about landing the right punch at the right time – and I almost did.
“It shows me the level I am at. If I can go out there and just have that one option and be that close to pulling it off, it shows how mentally strong I can be in things I can achieve.”
Anthony Yarde (19-1, 18KOs) vs Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12KOs) for the Commonwealth light heavyweight title headlines a night of boxing live on BT Sport 1 on Saturday, which also features a super bantamweight battle with the WBC International title at stake between Michael Ramabeletsa (18-17, 8KOs) and the unbeaten Southern Area champion Chris Bourke (8-0, 5KOs).
Bantamweight starlet Dennis McCann (7-0, 5KOs) takes on Pedro Matos (7-3) over eight rounds. 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali has his second fight in the pro ranks and there is a debut for Olympic Youth gold medallist Karol Itauma.
YARDE vs ARTHUR – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
FRANK WARREN MARKS the week of his 40th year in the sport of licenced professional boxing by delivering the blockbuster light heavyweight collision between Commonwealth champion Lyndon Arthur and 2019 world title challenger Anthony Yarde.
The pair came together at a private media briefing in London earlier today and below is a selection of quotes from the event.
Frank Warren It has been a great story and I’m glad we are going to church on Saturday! I am really looking forward to it. I look back over the years and the first fight I did was a light heavyweight fight between two world ranked American fighters at the top of the bill. When I look back I thought we would do some tickets and have a real big crowd, but the place was empty – you could have fired a machine gun and wouldn’t have hit anyone!
Here we go, we are back again on Saturday with no people there. It is very ironic, but for different reasons. If we could have sold tickets for this one, could you imagine, it would be a burster and they would be knocking down doors to get in.
I’ve had my ups and downs over the years, I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve made some good friends – a couple of little enemies along the way, but mostly friends – and it doesn’t even feel like 40 years, so I am looking forward to the next 40.
I am delighted over where we are and I am delighted to be promoting this fight between these two guys. I love the sport, it is the most amazing sport of all. Fighters are unique sportsmen and it is a privilege to be around them, at least most of them. You look at what they have to go through to fight, the sacrifices they make with their youth and not being able to do what most youngsters do. They sacrifice these things because they are looking for better things in life. to make their families comfortable and to secure their futures – in probably the most challenging of all sports.
It is not like football, tennis or golf where, if you get beat you play again the next week. Fights bring about career-defining moments and that is why you’ve got to take your hat off to these guys. They are on the top pedestal of all sportsmen.
We had a show last Saturday at Church House and it was a great fight. This will be the same. You look at the styles, the records, the will to win and determination both these guys have got. What it says all over it is ‘fight’ and that is what you are going to get, a great fight.
We arranged to do it back in April and for obvious reasons it didn’t happen, but here we are today getting the fight on.
Lyndon Arthur I’ve watched him go through the gears with the opponents he’s faced and, with being from the same promotional team, it has always made sense for us to fight. We’ve both been winning, both been doing our thing, we’re both British and, as everyone says, it makes for a great British dust-up. That is what it is going to be on the night.
It is exciting times, I am excited to get in there and excited to see what’s going to happen on the night. I wanna test myself against what is supposed to be the best in the business, so let’s get it on, let’s do it. Why would I be here if I didn’t think I would win.
We will see what happens on the night but I believe I am better and I believe I will win. I am not here to make the numbers up or be an opponent. I might be on the B-side right now but I am here to change that. I feel like I am special.
Anthony Yarde It is boxing, it is a compliment he wants to fight me and he will tell you himself I have done nothing but entertain and have done more than what was expected of me. That is how I’ve got to the level I am at so for me on Saturday night it is about doing the same thing. Being a better Anthony Yarde, being entertaining, being explosive and as smart as I can be.
Let’s just wait and see but, to be honest, I think I have shown that no-one can keep me off even at the highest level. When I start pressing I can press but, again, it is about learning – I’m sure he is still learning as well – and about putting on the best performances. I am definitely looking forward to the future.
I just feel like it is another one of those things [the Kovalev fight], challenging myself mentally. I never envisioned anything like that happening because I was extremely confident and what I have been through this year is conditioning of the mind. To be mentally and physically focused and as strong as possible.
A lot of people couldn’t be here with what I have been through this year. Again, I didn’t make any excuses and just got back in the ring. It is ‘Lions in the Camp’.
I am one of these people who takes nothing for granted. Each time I can get in a boxing ring and do this as a professional I just thank God. It is about making the most of it, having fun and, as I said before, it is about being explosive, being entertaining and being smart.
I am supremely confident in my abilities. He has said it about me over who I have fought and, again, styles make fights and I am not going to be there to be eating jabs or anything like that. I fought someone with one of the best jabs in the business and it was only later on in the fight when I needed to win by knockout that it told. With that experience my focus is to be even smarter, even better and you learn from your mistakes.
Anthony Yarde (19-1, 18KOs) vs Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12KOs) for the Commonwealth light heavyweight title headlines a night of boxing live on BT Sport 1 on Saturday, which also features a super bantamweight battle with the WBC International title at stake between Michael Ramabeletsa (18-17, 8KOs) and the unbeaten Southern Area champion Chris Bourke (8-0, 5KOs).
Bantamweight starlet Dennis McCann (7-0, 5KOs) takes on Pedro Matos (7-3) over eight rounds. 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali has his second fight in the pro ranks and there is a debut for Olympic Youth gold medallist Karol Itauma
DUBOIS vs JOYCE AND YARDE vs ARTHUR TO LAND IN WESTMINSTER
Hall-Of-Fame Promoter Frank Warren will celebrate forty years in professional boxing by bringing the two biggest domestic battles of the year right into the heart of Central London.
Dubois vs Joyce (28th Nov) and Yarde vs Arthur (5th Dec) will take place at the majestic Church House, in view of the world famous Westminster Abbey.
Church House was founded in 1887 and was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The current building was designed by the renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker and the foundation stone was laid by Her Majesty, Queen Mary on 26 June 1937. It took until 1940 to complete and was officially opened by His Majesty, King George VI on 10th June 1940.
The building suffered a direct hit in the early part of WWII but due to its exceptional construction only minimal damage was done. The Prime Minister of the day, Winston Churchill, was so impressed by this that the building was refurbished for use by the two Houses of Parliament for the remainder of the war.
Many historic speeches and events took place within the building during this time, in particular the announcement by Churchill from the stage of the Hoare Memorial Hall of the sinking of the battleship Bismarck.
In 1945, the first meetings of the United Nations Preparatory Commission and Security Council were held in the Hoare Memorial Hall.
Frank Warren said: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm such a spectacular venue to host two weeks of fantastic big time boxing. It’ll be a more than fitting way to celebrate my forty years in professional boxing.
“Both these bouts are going to be battles for the history books, so it makes sense they’d take place in a venue so rich in history.
“Winston Churchill announced the sinking of the Bismarck inside this venue, and soon we’ll know who out of Dubois, Joyce, Yarde and Arthur will sink or swim.”
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About Church House Westminster
Church House Westminster is a Grade-II listed multi-purpose event and conference venue uniquely located in tranquil Dean’s Yard. Most of its 19 flexible event spaces offer stunning views of Westminster Abbey. The dedicated team are consistently recognised by the BDRC Gold Standard for their commitment to service excellence throughout all areas. The conference and event spaces are equipped with the latest technology, supported by the venue’s own in-house, award-winning Audio-Visual team.
THE LION AND THE KING: YARDE v ARTHUR SHOWDOWN BOOKED FOR DECEMBER 5
LYNDON ARTHUR will make the second defence of his Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight championship against Anthony Yarde on Saturday December 5 in another huge night of boxing on BT Sport.
The sizzling showdown between the world ranked pair will be promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions and will mark the end of a huge two-week celebration of his 40 year anniversary in professional boxing, which also takes in Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce on November 28th.
Arthur (17-0, 12 KOs) won his title in October 2019 outpointing tough Ghanaian Emmanuel Anim, and in his first defence a little under four months ago won clearly on points against Dec Spelman.
‘King Arthur’ said: “What a great fight it is to be involved in.
“Being behind closed doors means there would have been a few stare downs at press conferences by now, but it takes nothing away when we fight.
“A lot of boxing fans are in lockdown, they all have an opinion and they will all tune in to BT Sport. I’m excited knowing that.”
Yarde (20-1, 19 KOs) went one better than his rival against Spelman in September and stopped him the sixth rounder of their non-title contest.
“I could have stopped Spelman if I upped the pressure. I was in first gear and not even blowing,” insisted Manchester man Arthur who is ranked at seven by the WBO and nine by the IBF.
The 29-year-old added: “Yarde has power, but to nullify it I will make sure I am not there to be hit. Everyone can hit hard if you stand in front of them.
“I have power as well and he needs to nullify mine. I’m not worried about his power.
“The two 12 rounders against Anim and Spelman have brought me on leaps and bounds. It’s 24 rounds experience in two 12 rounds fights. You cannot buy that.
“I’ve watched Yarde’s two fights since Kovalev and he hasn’t shown anything different. You get what you see.”
Like the defending champion, Yarde’s world rankings are soaring. The Ilford KO machine is ranked nine by the WBC, at twelve by the IBF and is fifth in the ratings for the vacant WBO championship.
Yarde went to Sergey Kovalev’s Russian back yard in August 2019 and came so close to beating the then WBO World Champion before running out of steam in round 11.
He returned in February and hammered Diego Jair Ramirez inside two rounds before his impressive showing against Spelman.
Yarde, 29, said: “I hope and believe this will deliver a thrilling end to what has been a difficult year for everybody.
“Top domestic fights like this are what boxing fans tell us they want and I am happy to be part of what will be a special night in London – a special place for a special fight.
“From my side, I will be about bringing entertainment for the viewers, spectacular action and a devastating finish. I want to make it a memorable fight that will be remembered for a long time.
“I am totally focused only on this fight and I am treating it just as seriously as I would for a world title. I take every fight seriously and right now I am just working towards getting the job done in the best fashion.”
It will also be a night to remember for Warren, as it concludes the two-week celebration of his 40th anniversary of promoting his first ever British Boxing Board of Control show.
The Hall-of-Fame promoter said: “It will be a memorable occasion for me personally, but to promote two world class boxers in the Queensberry stable going against each other is the icing on the cake.
“Anthony and Lyndon agreeing to fight tells you about their confidence levels and how they feel their place is in the pecking order.
“I believe the winner will become the mandatory for the WBO title.
“There are two guarantees. Anthony and Lyndon will deliver excitement and the winner will be in the world title picture in 2021.
“The fight was first scheduled for April. Sadly the pandemic has kept delaying it. Of course I would have loved a packed house, but we couldn’t delay it any further.”
Arthur decisions Spelman
Lyndon Arthur won a 12-round unanimous decision over Dec Spelman at the BT Studios in London.
Arthur dominated the action and won by scores of 116-112, 116-113, 119-109.
Arthur, 174 1/2 lbs is 17-0. Spelman, 174 lbs is 16-4.
Nick Ball won a decision over Jerome Campbell in a battle of undefeated super featherweights
In round seven, Ball dropped Cambell with a right hand.
Ball, 129 3/4 lbs lbs won by a 79-72 score and is now 13-0. Campbell, 128 1/2 lbs is 6-1.
Caoimhin Agyarko stopped Jez Smith in round nine of their scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.
Agyarko scored knockdowns in rounds seven and eight, and then dropped Smith again with a body shot in round nine and the fight was stopped at
Agyarko, 159.5 lbs is 7-0 with four knockouts. Smith, 159.5 lbs is 11-2-1.
Brad Strand won a decision over Brett Fidoe in a super bantamweight bout.
Strand, 133 3/4 lbs won by a 40-36 score and is now 4-0. Fidoe, 133 1/4 lbs is 13-63-5.
WEIGH-IN RESULTS & PHOTOS | ARTHUR vs SPELMAN | FRIDAY 31st JULY 7PM
Lyndon Arthur returns to action tomorrow night in a blockbuster Commonwealth Title clash against a tough challenger in Scunthorpe’s Dec Spelman.
Many have predicted that Spelman will give Arthur the toughest fight of his career, but Lyndon is confident of dispatching his opponent in just four rounds.
The prize? The winner will move forward to a future battle with Light Heavyweight superstar Anthony Yarde.
Rounding out the card will be Belfast banger Caoimhin Agyarko who takes on a step-up fight against Jez Smith, and Liverpool trio Brad Strand, Andrew Cain and Nick Ball will all make their Queensberry promotional debut.
Don’t miss any of the action live tomorrow night on BT Sport 1 at 7pm.
LYNDON ARTHUR 12st 6.5lb DEC SPELMAN 12st 6.5lb ———-
Arthur vs Spelman is live on BT Sport 1 at 7pm, tomorrow night.
YARDE TELLS COMPETITION TO “SHUT UP”, LOOKS AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER “SHAKE OUT”
In a three-man press conference ahead of Friday’s BT Sport main event between Lyndon Arthur and Dec Spelman, ‘The Beast’ Anthony Yarde told his competition to “shut up”, saying “if we’re not fighting, I’m not responding… you don’t matter.”
The spiky run-up to the Commonwealth title tilt between Arthur and Spelman has been punctuated by both men’s stated desire to go on to face Anthony Yarde later this year.
‘The Beast’ clearly doesn’t appreciate such call-outs.
Asked about how it felt to be the name on everyone’s lips, Yarde said: “I’ve never felt the need to call out anybody. I feel like if you make enough noise, you’re going to get big fights.
“So how does it feel? I don’t pay attention to it. A lot of British fighters call out my name, a lot fighters from other countries call out my name. If we’re not fighting just shut up.
“If we’re not fighting, I’m not responding to you… you don’t matter.”
Yarde was originally scheduled to fight Lyndon Arthur on April 11th, as chief support to the highly anticipated bout between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, but that fight was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lyndon has since taken on tomorrow’s tricky tear-up with Dec Spelman, though, and Yarde clearly fancies his own chance to get rid of any ring rust, saying “ I might get out in early September to get a little shake out as well.”
Any normal man would perhaps struggle with the lack of clarity around scheduling, but ‘The Beast’ isn’t letting the disruption affect his mood and says that he’s happy to “go with the flow”.
“Everyone knows this covid thing has been a madness, so you’ve just got to go with the flow. Stay focused, keep training and wait for the opportunities to come up.
“If Lyndon Arthur gets through this fight, we’ll get it cracking. If Spelman wins that puts him in the pipeline for me and him to fight.
“We’ll just see how it goes. No one knows what’s going to happen in boxing, all it takes is one punch. I’ll just stay focused and keep moving forwards.”
Yarde doesn’t like to play favourites and insists he’ll fight whoever wins on Friday. That said, he admits he does have one thing on his mind: “big fights”.
“There’s been a bit of hype around me and Lyndon Arthur as he’s undefeated. I think Lyndon’s got the bigger name right now. That’s what it is for me, the biggest names and the most attention. I want the fights that make the most noise and if Lyndon Arthur gets through this fight it makes ours even better.”
Lyndon agreed with his domestic rival, saying he hadn’t been bothered by the postponements and delays, saying “I’m a boxer by nature, it’s what I do. You have to adapt to certain situations you’re put in. Everything happens for a reason… I’ll go on to fight Anthony Yarde.”
Before that, though, ‘King’ Arthur must overcome the next challenger to his crown: Dec Spelman.
Lyndon is confident of a decisive victory and even revealed that his coach and uncle Pat Barrett has had a dream about when his nephew will land the final blow.
“He had a dream I put him out in four”, said Lyndon. “So keep your hands up and your chin down in round four, Dec.”
Spelman scoffed and spat back: “I’m coming for you!”
“If Lyndon wants to take me out in round four, more fool him because I’m going to be on his chest from round one.”
Before attention turns to the in-ring on Friday night, Yarde was put on the spot by host Dev Sahni asking him for his prediction as to who will emerge victorious.
Struggling to pick between the evenly matched Arthur and Spelman, Yarde laughed and joked: “I’ll go with Anthony Yarde.”
That clearly annoyed undefeated Mancunian Arthur who called ‘The Beast’ a “d*ckhead”, whilst Spelman looked on unimpressed.
It was clear the assembled cast of British Light Heavies would not agree on the outcome for Friday night, so it was left to Anthony Yarde to sum up the thoughts of the entire boxing universe.
“May the best man win.”
Arthur vs Spelman is live on BT Sport 1, tomorrow night at 7pm.
FRIDAY: Lyndon Arthur-Dec Spelman Light Heavyweight Clash Headlines Afternoon of UK Boxing LIVE on ESPN+
(July 29, 2020) — Lyndon “King” Arthur will make the first defense of Commonwealth light heavyweight crown Friday, July 31, against Dec “Kid Nytro” Spelman at BT Sport Studio in London. The scheduled 12-round battle will headline a closed-door card beginning at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT live on ESPN+.
Arthur (16-0, 12 KOs) won the vacant Commonwealth title live on ESPN+ last October in a barnburner against Emmanuel Anim, knocking down Anim in the fourth round before prevailing via unanimous decision. He was scheduled to fight former world title challenger Anthony Yarde in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic interfered. With an eye on a Yarde fight later this year, Arthur must first get past Spelman (16-3, 8 KOs), a six-year professional looking to rebound from last September’s decision loss to Shakan Pitters. Spelman, a scaffolder by day, is a former English light heavyweight champion.
In undercard action on the ESPN+ stream:
In an eight-round junior lightweight bout featuring a pair of unbeatens, Liverpool native Nick Ball (12-0, 6 KOs) will face Jerome “Stay Ready” Campbell (6-0, 1 KO). Ball, who recently signed with Queensberry Promotions, won a Junior ABA title as an amateur.
Middleweight prospect Caoimhin “Black Thunder” Agyarko (6-0, 3 KOs) will fight Jez Smith (11-1-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round showdown. As an amateur, Agyarko won a 2018 Irish national championship before turning pro later that year.
Junior featherweight prospect Brad Strand (3-0, 1 KO) will fight noted spoiler Brett Fidoe in a four-round bout. Fidoe has been knocked out only once in an 80-fight pro career that began in 2012.
“FORGET YARDE AND BUATSI… I”LL BE THE GUY” DECLARES ‘KING’ ARTHUR
With just two days until his BT Sport 1 main event against Dec Spelman, ‘King’ Lyndon Arthur has declared himself ready to conquer the United Kingdom’s Light Heavyweight landscape.
“Forget Yarde and Buatsi,” said Lyndon of his two most high-profile rivals. “By the end of the year, i’ll be the guy you’re all talking about.”
Prior to Lockdown, Arthur had been scheduled for a blockbuster bust-up with ‘The Beast’ Anthony Yarde but those plans were scuppered by the Lockdown and subsequent postponement of a planned April 11th card at the O2 Arena.
That fight remains part of Frank Warren’s plans for later this year, but first Lyndon must overcome a tricky defence of his Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title against a tough opponent in Dec Spelman.
Spelman is confident of victory himself and in his first interview since arriving in London for fight week, the Scunthorpe scrapper vowed to take Lyndon’s “head off”.
The ‘King’ isn’t worried about the threat to his crown… or his head.
“Friday it’ll be the same old story. I’ll beat him down and I’ll knock him out. Easy work.
“I keep hearing people say this is my hardest fight but I’m going to make it look like my easiest. Dec Spelman has never been hit as hard as he will be on Friday night.”
Spelman enters the ring boasting an impressive record of 16-3, but the undefeated Mancunian thinks he’ll be able to prove he’s a level above his opponent.
Lyndon is 16-0 with 12KO’s to his name and believes he’ll soon prove himself worthy of his royal nickname.
The ‘King’ said: “Dec’s a good fighter but he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.”
Arthur vs Spelman is live on BT Sport 1 at 7pm, this Friday night.
SPELMAN AIMS TO BURST LYNDON’S BUBBLE, VOWS TO “TAKE HIS HEAD OFF”
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER Dec Spelman today arrived at the fighter hotel ahead of a headline clash against British and Commonwealth Champion ‘King’ Lyndon Arthur, vowing to dethrone his highly-favoured opponent.
The pair will clash on Friday night, live on BT Sport 1 at 7pm, and a confident Spelman is clear on what he intends to do: “I want to bash up Lyndon, I want his British and Commonwealth titles… and then I want to fight Anthony Yarde.”
Much has been made of Hall-Of-Fame promoter Frank Warren’s plans to manoeuvre Arthur into position to face Yarde later in the year, but Spelman believes he’s being overlooked and it’ll come back to bite Arthur come Friday night.
“All i’ve heard about since the fight was made is how Lyndon’s going to beat me and then get his big night against Anthony Yarde.
“I’m sick of people looking past me, I’m sick of Lyndon Arthur looking past me. It’s all fun and games for him until he gets in the ring on Friday and realises he should never have taken this fight.”
The Scunthorpe scrapper believes that he can take Arthur to levels he’s not yet seen and then go and give a good account for himself against ‘The Beast’ later in 2020.
“I’ve already beaten fighters that would beat Lyndon Arthur. The one time he stepped up he went to war with an unknown Ghanaian.
“Anthony Yarde has nothing that worries me. None of the light heavies do. That’s how good I feel.
“I feel great, I’ve just been grinding through lockdown and I’m ready to take Lyndon’s head off.”
The last time Dec Spelman fought on BT Sport he suffered a razor-thin, close decision loss to Shakan Pitters but Dec reckons viewers shouldn’t read too much into what he considers a sub-par performance.
“BT Sport viewers didn’t see the best of me last time out, but I know come Friday it’ll be the best version of Dec Spelman that knocks out Lyndon Arthur.”
Live coverage on BT Sport 1 begins at 7pm on Friday.
KING ARTHUR LOOKS TO SEND KO WARNING TO ANTHONY YARDE
LYNDON ARTHUR is focused on knocking out Dec Spelman before getting to grips with Anthony Yarde.
The Mancunian makes the first defence of his Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight championship against Spelman (16-3, 8KOs) on Friday July 31 In the third instalment of Frank Warren’s summer series.
Scunthorpe’s Spelman is one of the toughest 12st 7lb men in Britain and it will be a big ask for Arthur (16-0, 12KOs) to end his challenge inside 12 rounds.
Arthur, 29, hasn’t boxed since last October when he claimed his title by outpointing Ghana’s Emmanuel Anim, who he floored in round four.
Lyndon said: “Dec might have lost a couple of fights, but he leaves it in there and is a tough, come forward fighter, can take a shot and could be in there for the long haul.
“He is rock solid, but he hasn’t been hit off me. He hasn’t been in with anyone who hits as hard as I do. I am looking to knock him out.
“The Anim fight ticked so many boxes for me. I know I am fit and can do 12 rounds without a problem.
“Anyone I had hit before that fight hadn’t got up, but him getting up and pushing me for 12 rounds was a good experience.
“It was nice to get in there with someone who can give me a good fight after being hurt. I adapted well to that situation.
“If I drop Dec and he gets up and pushes me 12 rounds there won’t be any shock on my part this time.
“Boxing behind closed doors will be like an intense spar with little gloves on, trying to knock each other out.”
Arthur had been due to face Yarde this month in a mouthwatering clash, but the coronavirus crisis has forced a delay.
“Not to fight Yarde in July was initially a blow.” said Arthur.
“I have not fought since October last year so it will be good to get out before the Yarde fight.”
Spelman, 28, won the English title last May when he defeated Kirk Garvey, but Shakan Pitters snatched the crown from him back in September.
He knows this a chance to wreck Arthur’s date with Yarde and book himself that fight later this year.
“The chance of fighting Yarde is driving me on massively,” roared Spelman who combines boxing with his day job as a scaffolder.
“Lyndon has the Yarde fight hanging over him, but if I win then I could get that fight and make life-changing money.
“Lyndon has power, but he is also elusive. I am not stupid enough to think I can outbox him.
“I have got to get in his face, rough him up, use my strength. I can whack a bit as well.
“He knows what I am going to do. I am going to meet him in the middle and we will see who comes on top. This fight is a potential banana skin for him.”
On the same bill at BT Sports studio Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko (6-0, 3KOs) will get the chance to show his talents as chief support in his first ten-rounder.
Liverpool trio Nick Ball (12-0, 6KOs), Andrew Cain (5-0, 5KOs) and Brad Strand (3-0, 1KO) are all in action, as Ball takes on Jerome Cambell (6-0, 1KO) in a Super-Featherweight clash and Strand tackles Brett Fidoe (13-62-5, 6KO’s) in super-bantam action. Andrew Cain’s opponent will be confirmed shortly.
THE BEAST IS BACK: YARDE vs ARTHUR ADDED TO O2 BLOCKBUSTER
THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED ‘Seek and Destroy’ showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce at the o2 Arena on April 11 now has a blockbuster chief support in place with Anthony Yarde set to take on the unbeaten Lyndon Arthur.
In what is another huge domestic duel, Yarde – who lost out in a world title challenge to Sergey Kovalev on away soil in August of last year – goes in with Manchester’s former Team GB product and Commonwealth champion Arthur in what is certain to be a pulsating collision of big-punching light heavyweights.
Prior to his venture to Chelyabinsk – Kovalev’s home town – Yarde had stopped all but one of his previous opponents and worked his way to the No.1 position with the WBO, winning the Southern Area, WBO European and WBO Intercontinental titles along the way.
Before this, the explosive 28-year-old known as ‘The Beast’ had not been taken beyond seven rounds and he currently holds a 90 per cent KO-ratio. Yarde’s ring record stands at 19-1 (18 KOs).
Decorated amateur Arthur, also 28, has registered 12 KOs from his 16 professional fights and won his Commonwealth crown last time out against Emmanuel Anim in December.
Trained by Pat Barrett at the Collyhurst and Moston Gym, ‘King Arthur’ has long considered himself the dark horse of the currently hot division and was patiently awaiting a breakthrough opportunity against one of the marquee domestic light heavyweights.
His wait is nearly over and we can expect a fascinating clash between a vastly experienced former amateur star and one who exploded onto the scene and thrived despite a limited amateur background.
Further title action comes in the form of a British welterweight championship rematch between Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) from Garnant in Wales and ‘The Pexican’, Peckham’s Johnny Garton (21-2-1, 10 KOs).
The pair met in March 2019 when Garton was champion – having won the belt in a thriller against Gary Corcoran – at the Royal Albert Hall. Jenkins prevailed via the scorecards after an enthralling encounter and now he makes his third defence, having clocked up a victory over Paddy Gallagher and a technical draw last time out with Liam Taylor, where the fight was stopped due to a severe cut.
WBO European super featherweight champion Archie Sharp (18-0, 9 KOs) will be in title action at the o2, along with the WBO European super welterweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz (10-0, 6 KOs).
‘Sharpshooter’ Sharp clinched his champion status in October 2018 with the defeat of the then unbeaten Lyon Woodstock in Leicester. He has since made three successful defences of his title and has broken into the top-five of the WBO world rankings.
Sheeraz, just 20, won his belt with an impressive stoppage of Birmingham’s experienced campaigner Ryan Kelly in November.
Also featuring on the stacked Dubois-Joyce undercard is big-hitting middleweight Denzel Bentley (12-0, 10 KOS), top heavyweight prospect and Tyson Fury sparring partner David Adeleye (1-0, 1 KO) and precocious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann (6-0, 4 KOs).
McCann’s Queensberry iBox Gym teammates Sam Noakes (3-0, 3 KOs), Henry Turner (2-0) and Micky Burke jr (3-0) join him on the big show.
Warrington stops Takoucht in 2; Retains Featherweight title
Josh Warrington thrilled his hometown fans by stopping Sofiane Takoucht in two rounds to retain the IBF Featherweight title at First District Arena in Leeds, England.
In round two, Warrington dropped Takooucht with a big right hand. Seconds later, it was another huge right to the head that sent Takoucht down for a 2nd time. Warrington then landed big combination that started Takoucht that forced a referee stoppage at 2:54.
Warrington, 125 lbs of Leeds, UK is 30-0 with seven knockouts. Takoucht, 124 lbs of France is 35-4-1.
Zelfa Barrett stopped Jordan McCorry in round nine of their scheduled 12-round super featherweight fight.
In round three, Barrett landed a thudding left hook to the body that put McCorry down.
In round eight, It was another body shot that hurt McCorry, and a follow up right to the head sent McCorry to the deck. Adding insult to McCorry, he was docked a point for landing a punch after the bell. In round nine, Barrett landed an uppercut to the head that sent McCorry to the canvas, and the bout was stopped at 1:43.
Barrett, 129 lbs of Manchester, UK is 23-1 with 14 knockouts. McCorry, 130 lbs of Scotland is 18-7-1.
George Davey made a successful pro debut with a four-round decision over Zygimantas Butkevicius in a super welterweight contest.
Davey, 154 lbs of York, UK won by a referee score of 40-36 and is now 1-0. Butkevicius, 156 lbs of Lithuania is 2-26.
Lyndon Arthur won a 12-round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Amim in a light heavyweight fight.
In round three, Amim was cut around the right eye. In round four, Amim was cut over his left eye. Later in the round, Arthur dropped Amim with a hard right
In round eight, Amim landed a hard flurry on the ropes that hurt Arthur, and in the process opened up a cut over Arthur’s left eye.
Arthur, 174 lbs of Manchester, UK won by scores of 117-110, 117-111 and 115-112 to raise his unbeaten mark to 16-0. Amim, 172 lbs of Accra, GHA is 14-3-1.
Reece Mould won a six-round decision over Bayardo Ramos in a featherweight bout.
In round two, Mould dropped Ramos with a right hand.
Mould, 133 lbs of Doncaster, UL won by a 60-53 score and is now 13-0. Ramos, 135 lbs of Spain is 8-15-1.
In round two, Mould dropped Ramos with a right hand.
Shabazz Masoud won a six-round decision over Yesner Talavera in a featherweight bout.
Masoud, 126 lbs of the UK won by a referee score of 60-54, and is now 6-0. Talavera, 130 lbs of Garona, SPA is 15-12-1-2.
YARDE CAN DELIVER KOV KO SAYS ARTHUR
LYNDON ARTHUR insists arch rival Anthony Yarde can shock the world and crush Sergey Kovalev next month.
Ilford hitter Yarde faces a tough assignment when he travels to Kovalev’s back yard in Chelyabinsk and challenges for the Russian’s WBO light-heavyweight title on Saturday August 24.
Yarde has won all 18 fights since turning professional, and knocked out 17 of his opponents, but will be a big underdog away from home. . Arthur, 28, said: “It is a hard task, but I do think Yarde has got a good chance.
“Yarde is a very hard puncher and has a chance of knocking him out, but we are still waiting to see him get hit at that level.
“I think he has a good chance, but it isn’t just Kovalev. Boxing there in Russia is a lot different to being in London where there are home comforts.
“Kovalev is very good and it’s a case of what is left in him.”
Mancunian Arthur has won all 15 professional fights and next year is a likely opponent for fellow Frank Warren promoted boxer Yarde.
They might be enemies, but Arthur will be cheering Yarde on when he makes the daunting trip to Russia.
“Even though he is a potential opponent and rival we have to support him and I wish him all the best out there. I will support any British fighter especially on the road,” explained Arthur.
“I have seen people online saying Yarde has no chance against Kovalev, but those saying that are the ones who will say, ‘I knew he could do it,’ if he wins.
“As fighters in the public eye we have to accept that people give opinions on us and will want us to get beat.
“But Anthony has to do what he wants and he is by having this fight. That is the main thing and all I can do is wish him well.”
Kovalev v Yarde will be live on BT Sport on August 24.
LYNDON ARTHUR ON YARDE AND BUATSI: “MY NAME SHOULD BE UP THERE AND IT WILL BE SOON”
WITH ALL THE talk doing the rounds concerning the explosive British light heavyweights – namely Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi – there is another who feels it is high time he too was added to the conversation.
Lyndon Arthur has amassed a record of 13-0 (10KOs) without too much fanfare to date and tends to be omitted from speculation regarding potential domestic dust-ups. He now wants in on the big fight gossip.
“I’ve been under the radar and it’s been working well while I’ve been learning my craft as a professional,” accepted ‘King Arthur’, a former Team GB standout amateur.
“It is getting to the stage now where we have to start making a bit of noise and have to start letting people know that I am not just a prospect. I am trying to be someone good in this division.
“My pedigree as an amateur was decent and as a pro I am doing quite well with 13 fights and ten knockouts.
“My name should be up there and it will be soon,” he insisted, adding that he would relish encounters with the likes of Yarde and Buatsi sometime soon, once he is up to ten round status.
“Of course, because when two British fighters get thrown in with a bit of needle it always makes for a great fight, so of course I want my name in there.
“If I keep winning and everyone else does then it is inevitable these fights will happen.
“I believe I am on a par with them and I believe with the right fights and a little bit more experience I will be up there. I need to get in a ten round fight because that is the only thing they have got on me now, being in the ten round camps. That is it.
“When I get to that there is no difference.”
LYNDON ARTHUR EYES FUTURE CLASH WITH ANTHONY YARDE
Light Heavyweight prospect Lyndon Arthur believes it is only a matter of time before he begins mixing it with his domestic rivals; also stating he’s the better fighter out of him and stablemate, Anthony Yarde and more than willing to prove it in 2019.
‘King Arthur’ has been plying his trade out of the spotlight and on the small hall scene so far in his young career.
The Mancunian has shown he can certainly pack a punch with nine stoppage victories from his unblemished 12-0 record to date.
Fight number thirteen will take place on the undercard of a big night of boxing in Arthur’s home city of Manchester when Josh Warrington when he defends his world title against Carl Frampton on December 22nd.
Fully confident he will claim another victory in December, Arthur will have his sights specifically set on Anthony Yarde for 2019.
“He’s going to have to [learn my name], he’s the one making all the noise, he’s with Frank Warren, I’m with Frank Warren also, so that is a fight I’ll be looking for.
“I rate him, I’m not taking anything away from him, but I just think that I’m better.” stated 27-year-old.
The light heavyweight scene in Britain is rich in talent. Along with Anthony Yarde, British champion Callum Johnson and 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist Joshua Buatsi are also potential opponents in which Lyndon Arthur believes he is more than capable in getting the better of if they were to fight.
“I’m under the radar but I’m just doing what needs to be done and I’m sure soon enough you’ll be mentioning my name up there with those that have been mentioned already.
“I believe I would beat them. It’s inevitable that these fights will happen. British fights are the best fights and if I keep winning and they keep winning, it’s bound to happen.
IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. Mark Heffron and Liam Williams contest the vacant British middleweight title and Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) takes on former commonwealth champion Jason Cunningham (24-5). In a step up, Nathan Gorman puts his undefeated record and WBC International Silver Heavyweight Title on the line against former World Title challenger Alex Leapai.
Elsewhere on the bill. world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0) return to action. Manchester’s 12-0 Light Heavyweight Lyndon Arthur and 7-0 Darlington middleweight Troy Williamson also return.
Tickets are priced at £50 Upper Tier, £80 Tier, £100 Tier, £150 Tier, £200 Floor/Tier, £300 Floor, £400 Floor, £600 Inner Ring VIP Hospitality and are available.
