Anthony Yarde (left) avenged a loss to Lyndon Arthur in 2020 with a fourth-round knockout a yr later. (Photograph courtesy of BT Sport/Queensberry)
“It’s not about him, it’s about us,” stated Tunde Ajayi.
The coach was speaking concerning the job his fighter, Anthony Yarde, will face when he steps into the ring with unified gentle heavyweight titleholder Artur Beterbiev in Wembley Enviornment on Saturday night time.
“That’s the main focus, and I’m certain Anthony will reply the identical. There’s nothing detrimental or unhealthy you’ll be able to say about someone who’s been excellent, as a result of that’s what [Beterbiev’s] been so far. So the preparation has been for somebody of that stage, of the elite stage, so we’re going to be prepared. It’s so simple as that. He’s an excellent fighter. He’s 37 or 38 however he doesn’t appear to be slowing down; he’s an excellent fighter and one you could by no means overlook, so we’re ready.”
Beterbiev doesn’t have many chinks in his armor, and he and Dmitry Bivol are seen as the two best at 175 pounds in the world. It’s Beterbiev’s ferocity that causes him to catch the attention, however Ajayi doesn’t see the champion as one-dimensional or the monster he’s typically portrayed as. He sees a talented prizefighter with a deep novice pedigree.
“I’ve heard folks talking about his energy, however his energy is overrated and his boxing capability is underrated, and [former Beterbiev stoppage victim Oleksandr] Gvozdyk stated it,” Ajayi continued. “And I heard that; that’s the way in which I take a look at it. Individuals speak about his energy, however he’s an excellent boxer. He’s a incredible boxer. Energy for me has at all times been who’s standing in entrance of you, so I don’t get caught up on this energy enterprise. What’s highly effective to 1 man is just not highly effective to a different man. Let’s not overlook, Anthony had an nearly similar report going into the Kovalev combat [in 2019], however no person was speaking about Anthony’s energy. But he had an similar report. He was 18-0 on the time with 17 KOs. Quick ahead, he’s 23 wins and 22 KOs, so Anthony can hit a bit as properly.”
No matter Yarde’s energy and the truth that he’s boxing at house, he’s the underdog. And though he skilled that earlier than in Russia against Kovalev, the low expectations have Ajayi buzzing as soon as extra. As soon as he’s gone past any type of negativity and has chosen to disregard the various critics he faces, he’ll take it and use it as gasoline. The stress is usually off within the underdog position.
“I find it irresistible,” he insisted. “Individuals at this stage, except you’re new to it – which we have been in Russia – I don’t pay a lot focus to it. It’s odds. It’s bookmakers. It’s folks that gamble and typically it’s most of the people, however I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to that, since you’ve simply bought to arrange the way in which champions put together. So we’re not being attentive to that [negativity]. That stated, it’s a driving motivation.”
Next: Beterbiev will neutralize Yarde, says Scully
