\n<\/p>\n
Anthony Yarde knocked out Stefani Koykov in three rounds to secure a world title shot against unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.<\/span><\/p>\n Yarde, 31, made short work of the previously unbeaten Koykov, knocking him down with a short uppercut to finish the fight.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The win assures Yarde a crack at the WBC, IBF and WBO world titles which are held by the undefeated Beterbiev. <\/span><\/p>\n Yarde fights Beterbiev on 28 January at the OVO Arena in London.<\/span><\/p>\n “It wasn’t flawless, I don’t think flawless is possible but that’s what we strive for,” Yarde said after the fight.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve got so much confidence going into this next fight.”<\/span><\/p>\n Yarde peppered Koykov with shots in a strong opening round and went to the body in the second, drilling shots into the ribs of his opponent whenever the opportunity presented itself.<\/span><\/p>\n With little coming back from Koykov, Yarde put his foot on the gas in the third round. He hurt Koykov with a right hand to the body and a left hook to the head.<\/span><\/p>\n Koykov retreated to the ropes only for Yarde to hit him with two left hooks before a sharp, quick uppercut put the Bulgarian down.<\/span><\/p>\n The win extends Yarde’s unbeaten streak to three after bouncing back from defeat to <\/span>domestic rival Lydon Arthur<\/span><\/a> in their rematch in late 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n Yarde also returned from an 11-month lay-off and now has an impressive 22 knockouts in 23 wins.<\/span><\/p>\n The fight against Beterbiev will be Yarde’s second attempt at becoming a world champion after losing to then WBO champion <\/span>Sergey Kovalev in Russia<\/span><\/a> in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Kovalev stopped Yarde in the eleventh round after a spirited display from the East London fighter.<\/span><\/p>\n This time Yarde will have home comforts as Beterbiev has agreed to travel to England to defend his three titles for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n Beterbiev, 37, added the WBO title to his collection in June when he stopped <\/span>American Joe Smith Jr in two rounds<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n “I never back down from a challenge, and Anthony Yarde is a top contender who asked for this fight. I look forward to fighting in London for the first time since the Olympics,” Beterbiev said. <\/span><\/p>\n “Yarde called me ‘slow’ after my fight with Joe Smith Jr, but slow and steady wins the race.”<\/span><\/p>\n