Boxing: Anthony Yarde defends titles with win against Tony Averlant, as Larry Ekundayo returns to the ring
Anthony Yarde beat Tony Averlant at York Hall on Saturday (pic: Steven Paston/PA) - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
The latest news from the local boxing scene
Hackney-born Anthony Yarde retained both his WBO Inter-Continental and European light heavyweight titles with another spectacular performance on Saturday.
The 26-year-old took on a much more experienced boxer in Frenchman Tony Averlant at York Hall on a Frank Warren promotion.
Averlant had a height and reach advantage, but it was Yarde who had his opponent on the back foot from the start.
The Frenchman tried to counter-punch as Yarde would advance towards him and did have some success, but most of Averlant’s shots were wild.
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As the fight progressed, Averlant began to mark up around his face and in round three, his nose started to bleed, which continued for the rest of the contest.
Averlant had gone 12 rounds more than once in European title fights, but was in trouble by round six when a body shot dropped him to the canvas.
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Another blow to the same area just under the ribs by Yarde dropped Averlant to the canvas again, but he was somehow able to survive the seventh round.
However, Averlant was then retired in between rounds seven and eight by his corner, handing Yarde his 15th pro win.
• Stoke Newington welterweight Larry Ekundayo returns to the ring on Saturday night at the Brentwood Centre to face a selected opponent on a Johnney Roye promotion.
The Hackney boxer has been out of the ring since last July when he lost his unbeaten record to Wembley’s Gary Corcoran on a split decision.
Ekundayo won a London Elite title with Haringey Police and boxed for Nigeria at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Having won his first 12 fights as a professional, which included victory in a Prizefighter tournament, Ekundayo’s unbeaten record came to an end in his last bout.
Former Lion ABC amateur Justin Menzie is another Hackney fighter also coming off a loss and will look to get his career back on track at York Hall on Saturday.
The super welterweight fights on a Smith Sports promotion in an eliminator against Robert Asagba for a shot at the Southern Area title.
Asagba will be a gallant foe for Menzie, having won four of his five pro fights.
