David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde set for November

David Benavidez will face Anthony Yarde in November.

David Benavidez is making the jump to Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season, leaving Premier Boxing Champions behind.

Alalshikh says that Benavidez will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde in November.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KO) won the WBC’s interim 175 lb belt in June 2024 when he moved up to that division and defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk, having tired of chasing a Canelo Alvarez fight that wasn’t going to happen at 168.

“The Mexican Monster” defended that interim crown against David Morrell on February 1 of this year, winning a decision in Las Vegas, and was promoted to full titleholder status after it was clear that Dmitry Bivol would not be making a defense against Benavidez, likely awaiting confirmation of a third Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev fight.

The WBC never operated with that sort of firm hand when Benavidez held their interim title at 168 lbs from 2022-23, fighting three times for that belt while Canelo held the full title.

All things considered, Yarde (27-3, 24 KO) is about as good a challenger as is actually available, what with Bivol and Beterbiev figured to be focused still on one another. The 33-year-old British fighter has won four straight, albeit three of those wins were carefully-chosen after his valiant 2023 loss to the aforementioned Beterbiev.

In addition to Yarde being a solid and credible challenger, Benavidez vs Yarde could be a really good fight, pitting two heavy hitters who work best when they’re aggressive against one another.