Mysteriously Behind on Two Scorecards, Artur Beterbiev Drops and Stops Yarde in the Eighth Round, Moves Closer to 2023 Dmitry Bivol World Light Heavyweight Unification Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (January 29th, 2023)– Artur Beterbiev, a 9:1 betting favorite at age 38, the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization World Light Heavyweight champion, moved a step closer to a world light heavyweight championship unification bout with (21-0) World Boxing Association Super World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol of Kyrgyzstan, with an eighth round technical knockout stoppage over a game but ultimately overmatched Anthony Yarde in the main event of an eleven bout card at Wembley Arena in Wembley, United Kingdom, on Saturday evening, January 28, 2023.
Both Beterbiev, (19-0 with 19 knockouts), Montreal, Canada, by way of Khasavyurt, Russian Federation, and Yarde, 23-3 with 22 knockouts, Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom, exchanged power shots with Yarde, whittling away at Yarde’s muscular shell for seven rounds. Beterbiev landed 136 punches overall to Yarde’s 111 punches, Beterbiev landed 84 power shots to Yarde’s 75 power punches, and Beterbiev landed 52 jabs to yarde’s 36 jabs. French judge Jerome Lades had Beterbiev ahead 67-66, overruled by judges Jun Bae Lim of South Korea who had it 68-65 for Yarde, and American judge Robin Taylor who had it 67-66 for Yarde.
Real Combat Media had Beterbiev deservedly well ahead 67-63, supported by the apparent punch count round by round. Yarde had home country advantage, but never came close to the championship rounds. Beterbiev could have gotten robbed, thus Beterbiev needed to close the show to remove the scorecards and he did, as most experts predicted.
Beterbiev was cut below the left eye, Yarde was cut below the right eye. Beterbiev was cut first. Neither cut was an issue and therefore did not figure into the scoring. Beterbiev was on his way to getting robbed, when an overhand right to the head sent Yarde to his knees. Yarde beat the count, but turned away from referee Steve Gray leaning against the ropes in a corner. Gray shook Yarde’s hands and gave him another chance. However, Yarde remained on the ropes with upraised gloves, while Beterbiev swung away, prompting Yarde’s trainer Tunde Ajayi to step on the ring apron and stop the bout at 2:01 of the eighth round.
In an upset worthy of the late Carlos Monzon, unknown 29-10 Argentinian light heavyweight veteran Ezequiel Osvaldo Moderna of Buenos Aires, Argentina, won the vacant World Boxing Council International Light Heavyweight title with a fifth round knockout of previously undefeated Karol Itauma, now 9-1 with seven knockouts, Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom by way of Slovakia. Moderna’s most recent four opponents fought on the road had a combined record of 54-0-1 when he fought them, and it was evident Moderna was totally underestimated, as he did do the work for this bout. Moderna outworked Itauma with power shots. Itauma was already in big trouble midway through round four. A picture perfect overhand right thrown by Moderna to the head of Itauma in round five shocked the Wembley crowd, as it sent the tired, beaten and battered Itauma to the canvas for good where he was ten counted out by referee John Latham at 1:04 of round five.
Other Bout Results at Wembley Arena, Saturday night, January 28, 2023:
Atrem Dalakian Win 12 David Jimenez, Flyweights
21-0 Azerbaijani Dalakian retains World Boxing Association World Flyweight title over Costa Rican challenger David Jimenez, now 12-1. Scoring: 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 Dalakian. Referee: Michael Alexander. WBA Supervisor: Jesper Jensen.
Masood Abdulah Win 6 Lesther Lara, Lightweights
Charles Frankham Win 6 Joshua Ocampo, Lightweights
Joshua Frankham Win 6 Joe Hardy, Super Welterweights
Umah Khan Win 6 Sandeep Singh Bhatti, Featherweights
Sean Noakes TKO 5 Santiago Garces, Welterweights
Tommy Fletcher Win 6 Darryl Sharp, Cruiserweights
Khalid Ali Win Referee’s Technical Decision 1 Ivica Gogosevic, Super Welterweights
Moses Itauma (Pro Debut) KO 1 Marcel Bode, Heavyweights (0:23)
Debuting heavyweight southpaw Itauma knocked out Bode in 23 seconds with right to head.
Opening bout on the card ended quickly. Referee Mark Bates gave the full ten count.
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