Anthony Yarde W10 Ralfs Vilcans ... Anthony Yarde reiterated his calls for all-British light heavyweight showdown with Joshua Buatsi despite an underwhelming comeback victory over Ralfs Vilcans (17-2) on Saturday night. The Londoner, who has previously challenged for world titles against Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev, dropped his opponent within the first ten seconds at the Copper Box Arena but then labored to a points victory in his first fight in eight months. Yarde (26-3) floored Vilcans with his first meaningful punch but was dragged into an unexpected battle against a stubborn opponent. Referee Victor Loughlin made Yarde a 98-92 winner, but Sky Sports wrote that the bout was closer and tougher than that scoreline suggests.

 

Yarde had been hoping to make a statement ahead of a showdown with Buatsi, potentially for the WBO interim title next year, but insists that he still expects to have high-profile fights in 2025. "I will fight anybody," he told Sky Sports. 

 

Yarde explained his lukewarm performance by saying, ""I've fought at the top of the mountain. Sometimes who is put in front of you might bring out the best version of you." This [was] a last-minute opponent. Maybe mentally I got a bit complacent here, but I would have to turn up for Buatsi. It's not just Joshua Buatsi, there's Dan Azeez, Craig Richards, so many names in this British scene. I've fought twice at world level. Before [Dmitry] Bivol I gave [Artur] Beterbiev his hardest fight. There's fights out there, but Josh Buatsi is one of the fights I want personally."