ANTHONY YARDE is set to return to the ring on Saturday against an unknown fighter in a Madrid nightclub.
Yarde – who was beaten by Sergey Kovalev in August – is in line to face 4-48-3 Colombian Diego Jair Ramirez.
Anthony Yarde will return against an unknown fighter in a Madrid nightclubCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The surprise fight comes as the 28-year-old looks to muscle his way back in for a shot at the vacant WBO light-heavyweight title, or a final eliminator.
WBO rules state you cannot compete for a title coming off a loss, meaning Yarde will use the short notice bout to put himself back in the frame for the vacant belt.
He came desperately close to dethroning WBO champion Sergey Kovalev in Russia after an onslaught in round eight.
But his brave effort came to an end in round 11 after the exhausted Londoner was stopped.
Kovalev went on to lose the title three months later, falling victim to a Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez knockout, also in the 11th round.
But Mexican superstar Canelo vacated the 175lb title, leaving promoter Frank Warren scrambling to find Yarde a fight he can win before pursuing the WBO title.
Warren told talkSPORT: “He’s just been out the ring for a while so he’ll just have a run out.
“He may fight again in the next couple of weeks, he’s got to win first.
“It’s not my show so we don’t know the opponent.
“I didn’t want to wait until April, April’s a long time away, he’s been out the ring since he fought Kovalev.
“He’ll get back in and get that rust out of his system.”
Liverpool’s Liam Smith was in a similar situation in 2017.
After losing to Canelo for the super-welterweight title, he beat Spaniard Marian Cazacu before challenging Liam Williams for the WBO interim title.
Warren announced a huge British clash between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce on April 11.
It is understood Yarde is aiming to be on the undercard of the heavyweight PPV clash at London’s O2.
Yarde needs to win first before he can challenge for a WBO beltCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
