Briton

British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde’s third shot at a world title ended in heartbreak again after a systematic beat-down by WBC champion David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia.

After a slow start, American Benavidez seized control, sending 34-year-old Yarde to the canvas with a barrage in the seventh.

With blood streaming from Yarde’s nose and smeared across the canvas, another heavy flurry of punches with a minute left in the round forced the referee to halt the contest.

“I stuck in there. I’m a fighter,” Yarde told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I felt like it was competitive. I know how he comes with good pressure. I was boxing, boxing, thinking middle rounds, the dog rounds, we would exchange.

“He has quick hands, caught me first and hit me with a good shot on the nose. When I took a knee and he hit me when I was down, I was dizzy after that.”

Benavidez was deducted two points for punches while Yarde was down, but the outcome was already inevitable.

The Londoner – having previously lost in world championship bouts to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022 – may now have to accept the possibility that a world title might elude him.

Benavidez, 28, remains unbeaten and extends his record to a formidable 25 knockouts in 31 wins.

After the fight, Benavidez – of Mexican heritage – revealed he plans to move up to cruiserweight to challenge Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on 2 May, aiming to become a three-weight world champion.

Briton Anthony Joshua said he will “stamp all over” Jake Paul and “break” the American as the pair came face-to-face to promote next month’s heavyweight fight.

Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua meets YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul – in what is, on paper, a mammoth mismatch – at Miami’s Kaseya Center on 19 December.

“I’m going to break his face and break his body up. I’m here to prove I’m the better fighter,” Joshua, 35, said.

“I’ll stamp all over him. That’s a fighter’s mentality.

“I’m going to really want to hurt him. That’s what I want to do.”

Despite those words, a relaxed Joshua and social media star Paul – usually known for his theatrics – exchanged pleasantries and kept it respectful with each other.

Paul instead targeted former Joshua opponent Francis Ngannou and called him “a joke” after the Cameroonian declined a fight offer.

Joshua, meanwhile, took aim at British rival Tyson Fury – and refused a £1m bet ‘The Gypsy King’ says he will place on a Paul win.

“[Paul] is better than Tyson Fury – he’s actually sitting here. I give him credit for that,” Joshua said.

“I’m just here to fight. I’ll get the job done, collect my cheque and that’s it.”

The 28-year-old Benavidez, an American of Mexican heritage, has stopped 24 of his 30 opponents and is a former two-time super-middleweight champion.

Nicknamed the “Mexican Monster”, he promised a “war”.

“I’ve had my eye on Anthony Yarde for a long time. He has power and heart. No matter who he faces, it’s a good fight,” added the Phoenix-born Benavidez.

“I want to give people action-packed fights. This one is going to live up to the moment.”

Earlier, heated words between the camps of WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr and fellow American challenger Devin Haney – who meet on the undercard – led to security stepping in as Haney’s father, Bill, moved toward Norman’s father, Brian Sr.

In contrast, the headliners showed mutual respect, with Yarde and Benavidez sharing smiles and a warm embrace during their face-off.