In a dominant display of power and pressure, David Benavidez successfully defended his WBC light-heavyweight title by stopping Britain's Anthony Yarde in a chaotic seventh round on Saturday, 23rd November 2025. The highly anticipated clash in Riyadh saw the American champion prove too formidable for the valiant challenger.
The Inevitable Finish
From the opening bell, Benavidez imposed his will, marching forward behind a high-volume attack that combined relentless pressure with concussive power. Yarde was forced to rely on his bravery and sporadic counter-punching, but as the fight progressed into the middle rounds, a stoppage began to feel unavoidable.
A Chaotic Conclusion
The end came in the seventh round, a dramatic frame filled with controversy and conclusive action. Benavidez sent Yarde to the canvas in one corner, but was immediately docked two points by the referee for landing an extra punch after the break. However, this moment of contention was quickly rendered a mere footnote. When the action resumed, Benavidez froze Yarde with a devastating left hook, forcing the referee to intervene and wave off the contest, saving the British challenger while he was still on his feet.
Post-Fight Fallout and Future Plans
With this victory, the 28-year-old Benavidez remains undefeated. The former super-middleweight champion not only retained his light-heavyweight strap but also immediately set his sights on a new division. In his post-fight interview, Benavidez stated, "It's definitely what I expected... He stepped in the 'Monster''s world and got KOed." He graded his performance a B+, noting he made it look easier than Yarde's previous world-title defeats to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev.
Benavidez confirmed his next move will be a cruiserweight title shot against champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez, tentatively scheduled for Las Vegas in May.
Undercard Highlights
The stacked card in Saudi Arabia featured several other significant results:
- Devin Haney became a three-weight world champion by dropping and outpointing Brian Norman Jr to claim the WBO welterweight title.
- Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez dominated and stopped Fernando Martinez in a super-flyweight unification bout.
- Abdullah Mason, at just 21 years old, became boxing's youngest-active world champion by winning a decision against Britain's Sam Noakes after 12 competitive rounds.
