By Geno McGahee
WBO Light Heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev, 34-3-1, 29 KO’s, was very fortunate that Anthony Yarde, 18-1, 17 KO’s, ran out of gas in the late rounds. Had he not, it’s likely that Yarde would have had the stoppage win.
Early in the fight, Kovalev controlled the fight from the outside, but he’s an old fighter and his power and presence aren’t what they once were. Yarde tried to counter from the outside, but it wasn’t happening. In the 8th round, Yarde decided to attack and had great success, hitting Kovalev to the body and then to the head with regularity. He beat him up so well that the corner of Kovalev threatened to stop the fight.
Yarde had nothing left after the attack in the 8th and took a beating from that point on, getting knocked out by a jab in round 11 and setting up a match with Kovalev and Canelo Alvarez, which will be a very easy fight for the Mexican powerhouse. Kovalev has nothing left. Hopefully, the fight with Canelo doesn’t happen. Kovalev could get really hurt.
