The British fighter produced a career-best performance for the first seven rounds, causing Beterbiev huge problems and he went into the eighth ahead on two of the judges’ cards.
But the Russian showed that trademark power to drop Yarde, who got to his feet but his corner had seen enough and the fight was waved off. It was the 19th win of Beterbiev’s professional career, and the 19th by stoppage.
Earlier in the night, Moses Itauma made a flying start to life in the professional ranks. The 18-year-old believes he will break Mike Tyson’s record and becomes the youngest ever heavyweight world champion, and he needed 14 seconds to knock Marcel Bode down on his debut. That was all that was needed, with the referee swiftly waving the bout off.
It came after Itauma’s brother Karol suffered a shock defeat earlier in the night, the first time he had been beaten in his young career. Ezequiel Maderna was impressive throughout and dropped the 22-year-old in the fifth round in front of a stunned Wembley Arena crowd, and Itauma could not get back to his feet.
More to follow…
