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Anthony Yarde's trainer and manager, Tunde Ajayi, believe he is destined for the cruiserweight division despite his current status as a light heavyweight. Yarde is set to face Joshua Buatsi, his leading domestic rival, in a London stadium in June and has aspirations to challenge for a world title again.
However, the upcoming fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol for the undisputed title in Saudi Arabia on June 1 means that even with a victory over Buatsi, Yarde would not be able to challenge for a world title until towards the end of the year. Nonetheless, Ajayi is confident that Yarde's future lies in the cruiserweight division.
"I remember when Ant made his debut," Ajayi recalled. "His opponent said, 'There’s no way he’s a light heavyweight'.
Anthony Yarde, only through discipline, has maintained that weight. If you look at him today, he's bigger than Cheavon Clarke, who’s about to fight for the British cruiserweight title."
Ajayi emphasized Yarde's solid build and expressed his belief that Yarde could be more comfortable at cruiserweight, as maintaining the light heavyweight limit has always been a disciplined regime for him. Despite this, Yarde is open to facing challenges in the light heavyweight division, with victory over Buatsi potentially leading to a title shot against the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol.
"For the stage he’s at, the light-heavyweight division is very attractive," Ajayi explained. "Because of that, he could be around [at 175lbs] for three or four more fights.
If you put the right proposal in front of Anthony, up at cruiserweight – if you put the right offer for Chris Billam-Smith, Anthony Yarde would fight him. If you put the right offer for Jai Opetaia, at cruiserweight, Anthony Yarde would fight him."