The contender for the world title in light heavyweight (up to 79.4 kg) Briton Anthony Yard (23-2, 22 KOs) gave
interview for the local BT TV channel.
On January 28, Yard is waiting for the second title fight in his career – this time against the unified champion from Canada Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs). In a conversation with the host, Anthony spoke about his expectations from the fight, spoke about his attitude to his defeats and expressed confidence in his own victory. Yard also commented on the episode after the duel of views, when Beterbiev hit the table.
– On January 28, you will again have a title chance.
– Yes.
— How do you feel it? A long wait after the fight with Kovalev – and finally you got this opportunity again.
– This opportunity is better. There are three main belts. Wonderful [смеётся].
– The last few years have been difficult for you personally and professionally. How do you find this trip?
“We wouldn’t know what it’s like to experience joy if it wasn’t for the pain. It is said that the people who experience the most joy have gone through a lot. So I’m with them.
Boxing is a strange sport. I think people like to write off those who have a defeat. But in every other corner of life, failures and mistakes teach you. Do you think losing has made you a better person?
– one hundred%. I wouldn’t know what I’m made of if I hadn’t gone through certain defeats. If I didn’t have some trials and tribulations. It’s all a blessing from above. Look at the level I’m at in boxing. When I started, it was an incredible opportunity. And now people all over the world are talking about me. People all over the world enjoy me in fights. When I came to New York, people came up to me – Anthony Yard, you are a tough motherfucker, I watch your fights, I love your style, you are f***ing! You only dreamed about this when you started. Now I accept it because I always had faith that it would come. Just like this fight. I said at the press conference that I want to stop picking icing on the cake. Because people will always have their own opinion. “Anthony fights nonames! Who are they?” And after the fight with Kovalev, they said that I have a character, that he fought with someone. People are changing their minds.
It seems to me that when I win this fight, I will still remain humble and will not listen to skeptics and optimists. Because sometimes positive comments are just an opinion. The optimists will be like, “This fight is OK, but when will you fight Bivol, when will you fight that one, when will you share with Mike Tyson?” [смеётся] Do you understand? Everyone will be waiting for the next one. I need to stay grounded and talk, one stage at a time.
- Beterbiev will drop his horse with a jab – the coach shared his advice with Yard
– January 28 – Beterbiev, 18 knockouts in 18 fights. Probably the toughest fighter you could pick in the division. You joked about picking the icing on the cake, but what do you think of him as a fighter? He’s spectacular, isn’t he?
— This is the point of view that I create. My choice of icing on the cake is absolutely the best. I’m looking forward to the challenge. And I can’t wait for January 28, 2023, when Anthony Yarde becomes the unified light heavyweight champion of the world.
– After a duel of views, Beterbiev hit the table. What did you see in his eyes?
I saw that his eyes were brown. Here’s what you can see [усмехается]. Eye color. He looked into my eyes. This is what you can see. All that matters is January 28th. We will enter the ring. Everyone will leave the ring. It will be just him, me and the referee. And we will fight. And there will be only one winner.
“He said himself that he doesn’t like trash talk or anything like that. It’s all about respect. It’s always good to respect who’s the best, but when you’re in the ring with the best, what does that say about you?
– That’s it. I am focused on my business. I don’t feel like a trash talk is ever needed. When I fought Lyndon, his team started trash talking. I said, “OK, we’ll fight.” That’s the only thing that matters is when we step into this ring. This is what makes our fight so exciting. Because there are two similar fighters or two similar characters in this regard. Come out and destroy! And on January 28th there will be one winner. And I’m looking forward to it.
– What is your destiny?
– Become unified light heavyweight champion of the world.