An enormous battle card goes down on Saturday, with 4 world title bouts anchoring the motion from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within the headliner, WBC gentle heavyweight champion David Benavidez will put his title on the road towards Anthony Yarde. Benavidez moved up in weight after failed makes an attempt to lure former undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez into an epic showdown. He is fought twice since transferring as much as 175 kilos, outlasting Oleksandr Gvozdyk by determination after which battering David Morrell over 12 rounds in February.
“I’ve had my eye on Anthony Yarde for a very long time. I do know he is an important fighter. He has a number of coronary heart, he has a number of energy, and the factor I like about him is regardless of who he is up towards, he is in there to make it an important battle,” Benavidez mentioned on the closing press convention this week. “Me, I wish to make each battle like I am in a conflict. I like to provide the individuals the fights they wish to see. I had an important coaching camp. I’ve skilled extraordinarily onerous and you recognize this battle goes to reside up-to-the-minute. Anthony Yarde, he is making an attempt to seize a world title. I am making an attempt to seize all of the titles and unify all of the titles within the gentle heavyweight division so there’s loads at stake right here.”
The opposite three championship bouts set for the occasion are WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. towards Devin Haney, WBC and WBO junior bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez battling WBA champ Fernando Martinez in a three-belt unification bout, and Abdullah Mason going through Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO light-weight championship.
There are many intriguing storylines working by the cardboard, so let’s check out the chances and break down all 4 world title fights.
David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde battle card, odds
Odds by way of FanDuel Sportsbook
- David Benavidez (c) -1200 vs. Anthony Yarde +680, WBC gentle heavyweight title
- Brian Norman Jr. (c) -112 vs. Devin Haney -112, WBO welterweight title
- Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (c) -1200 vs. Fernando Martinez (c) +670, unified junior bantamweight title
- Abdullah Mason -430 vs. Sam Noakes +300, vacant WBO light-weight title
Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes
The 21-year-old Mason (19-0, 17 KO) has been a sizzling prospect since turning skilled in 2021. He has been on the usual prospect observe of going through lower-level expertise earlier than slowly transferring as much as tougher challenges. In his most up-to-date battle, Mason confronted probably the most harmful take a look at of his profession, taking over Jeremia Nakathila. Nakathila was unable to proceed after the fourth spherical as Mason cruised once more.
In Noakes (17-0, 15 KO), Mason is going through one other up-and-comer, although one seven years his senior. Noakes’ profession has been similar to Mason’s, with a comparable stoppage price and journey from going through lower-level expertise to some wins over veterans reminiscent of Yvan Mendy and Ryan Walsh.
Mason is somebody who feels as if he has the makings of a particular fighter, whereas Noakes seems like he tops out at being an excellent one. That mentioned, neither fighter has confronted a lot resistance of their careers; of their 4 mixed fights that went to determination, they misplaced a complete of two rounds. This has the potential to be an excellent battle that teaches lots about each fighters. Choose: Abdullah Mason by way of UD (+220)
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez
Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KO) had a breakthrough 2022, when he accepted a battle with Carlos Cuadras for the WBC tremendous flyweight championship on one week’s discover. Leaping up a weight class on quick discover, Rodriguez gained the title and defended it twice towards Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez earlier than returning to flyweight. At flyweight, Rodriguez gained two titles earlier than returning to tremendous flyweight, the place he has continued piling up spectacular victories whereas changing into a unified champion as soon as once more — and grabbing the No. 5 spot within the CBS Sports activities pound-for-pound rankings.
Martinez (18-0, 9 KO) is a fighter who thrives on aggression. He gained the IBF title by beating Jerwin Ancajas in 2022. After profitable the belt, Martinez efficiently defended in a rematch earlier than beating Jade Bornea and Kazuto Ioka (twice). The battle has been focused for some time, and now the 2 finest fighters at 115 kilos are set to combine it up.
Rodriguez is a superb tactical fighter who unleashes combos in addition to anybody within the recreation. Martinez must determine a means for his aggression to nullify Rodriguez’s footwork and drive the problem in exchanges. That is a giant ask, although. Regardless, this has all of the makings of among the best fights of the yr. Choose: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez by way of UD (+290)
Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney
Haney (32-0, 15 KO) comes into the battle as the larger identify. As the previous undisputed light-weight champion, Haney has been in some big fights in his profession. As necessary as undisputed title fights towards George Kambosos Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko have been, the battle most individuals keep in mind for Haney is the thumping he acquired from Ryan Garcia in April 2024. Haney was dropped by Garcia thrice in a battle that got here as Garcia seemed to be spiraling in a psychological well being disaster. Garcia, who additionally missed weight, failed drug checks, resulting in a no-contest. By that technicality, Haney continues to be undefeated, however he seemed very gunshy towards Jose Ramirez in a horrible battle in Could.
Norman (28-0, 22 KO) packs loads of energy, and if Haney continues to be as fearful about getting hit as he seemed to be towards Ramirez, this could possibly be a protracted evening for him. Norman is on a profession finest run over his previous three fights, profitable the interim WBO welterweight belt by knocking out Giovani Santillan and being promoted to full champion when Terence Crawford vacated the belt to maneuver up in weight. As champ, Norman has knocked out Derrieck Cuevas and Jin Sasaki.
Haney opened the battle as a close to -145 favourite however now sits at a slight -112 underdog to Norman’s -120. It is onerous to erase the picture of Haney repeatedly crumbling when hit by Garcia’s left hooks and the virtually full incapability to get out of impartial towards Ramirez in one of many worst fights you will ever see. For these causes, it is not troublesome to see Norman scoring the most important win of his profession on Saturday. Choose: Brian Norman Jr. by way of TKO9 (+210)
David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde
Each essential occasion fighters have promised a shootout. Benavidez advised DAZN that he is glad to satisfy in a fan-friendly battle.
“I watched his fights,” Benavidez mentioned. “He likes to go ahead, he likes to press the motion, he likes to search for the knockout, so I am the identical means. So I feel on the finish of the day it may be each egos going at one another — who’s going to again up? It is not going to be me. It is in all probability not going to be him, both.
“After we’re able to go to conflict the persons are going to see an important conflict, and that is what we’re right here for, to provide the followers what they wish to see.”
Benavidez (30-0, 24 KO) is now totally established at gentle heavyweight, a division he moved to when it was clear Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was by no means going to satisfy him within the ring. Benavidez took an at instances ugly win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the WBC interim title after which defended that belt with a giant win over fellow former tremendous middleweight David Morrell. Now, having been promoted to full champion, Benavidez appears to be like to make his first protection towards Yarde.
Yarde (27-3, 24 KO) has twice challenged for gentle heavyweight world titles, shedding to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2023. In his losses to Kovalev and Lyndon Arthur, Yarde picked up a fame as somebody who was lacking the flexibility to dig deep and a willingness to stroll by hearth when issues bought troublesome. Whereas Yarde was stopped by Beterbiev within the eighth spherical of their battle, he shook a few of these labels by returning hearth and digging deep to provide Beterbiev a really troublesome battle.
Benavidez is the higher fighter heading into this one, however his energy has but to completely translate to 175 kilos. The Yarde who confirmed up towards Beterbiev may pull off a large upset. That consequence does really feel unlikely, although. Choose: David Benavidez by way of UD (+185)
