London, November 27, 2025
Anthony Yarde suffered a stoppage defeat to WBA light heavyweight champion David Benavidez in the seventh round, marking Yarde’s third unsuccessful attempt at a world title. The bout, held recently, ended due to severe swelling and bleeding, prompting the ringside doctor to halt the contest.
Fight Outcome and Career Impact
British boxer Anthony Yarde was stopped by undefeated champion David Benavidez after the seventh round in a decisive title bout. The referee intervened as Yarde was visibly compromised, with a badly swollen right eye and bleeding from his nose, unable to effectively defend himself. This loss marks a significant setback in Yarde’s quest for a world championship, representing his third stoppage defeat at the elite level following previous losses to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev.
Detailed Fight Breakdown
The match began with Yarde showing notable competitiveness, landing clean counter punches in the early stages that briefly pressured Benavidez. In rounds two and three, Yarde’s flashes of firepower provided some optimism. However, Benavidez quickly asserted control through consistent volume, precision, and relentless forward pressure. By the midpoint of the fight, Yarde began to tire visibly, maintaining distance and searching for powerful counterattacks to turn the momentum.
The seventh round proved decisive when Benavidez launched a punishing attack, beginning with a left hook to the body followed by a right hand that visibly rocked Yarde. The champion then delivered a relentless series of more than a dozen unanswered punches, culminating in a clean left hook to the chin. With Yarde no longer able to protect himself adequately, the referee stopped the fight to ensure his safety.
Context and Significance
Benavidez remains undefeated with a professional record of 31 wins, including 25 knockouts, successfully defending his WBA light heavyweight title and reinforcing his position as an imposing figure in the division. Conversely, Yarde’s repeated stoppage losses at the world-title level raise critical questions regarding his technical defense, resilience, and endurance over 12-round championship contests.
The pattern of consecutive title fight stoppages underscores challenges in Yarde’s ability to withstand sustained pressure and damage against the division’s top-tier fighters. For Benavidez, the victory continues a trajectory of dominance and elevates expectations for his future defenses and potential unification opportunities.
This outcome will be closely analyzed by boxing analysts and fans alike, focusing on Yarde’s approach to conditioning and ring strategy in subsequent bouts. Meanwhile, Benavidez’s performance reaffirms his status as a leading contender in the light heavyweight category, with an undefeated record signaling his continuing influence on the sport’s competitive landscape.