Anthony Yarde is going the extra mile after late start to his career

Yarde only took up boxing at the age of 18
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John Dillon7 December 2017

Starting late as a boxer did not harm Anthony Joshua in his rise to the top — and Anthony Yarde is hoping the same applies to him.

The London light-heavyweight, 26, is surging through the ranks at a speed reminiscent of Joshua, who became world heavyweight champion last year after 16 fights.

Like Joshua, Yarde only took up boxing at the age of 18 to escape a difficult past — and just two-and-half years into his professional career, he has already won 13 fights, 12 by knockout.

Yarde won the WBO European belt in July by knocking out Hungary’s Richard Baranyi in the first round and will make a second defence of his title on Saturday at the Copper Box Arena in Stratford on the undercard of James DeGale’s IBF super-middleweight title defence against Caleb Truax.

Yarde, who takes on Montenrgro’s Nikola Sjekloca, said: “I didn’t start boxing until I was 18 but I believe that is a big advantage now. If you start too young, it’s easy to become distracted. Other things and bad habits come into your life and, as a teenager, you don’t know what you want.

“I’ve done the drinking and nightclub thing. It means I am no longer curious about it.

“If you start a bit older, you know what you want to commit to and what it is really going to take to achieve your goals. I came in at the perfect time for me. Anthony Joshua did the same and you can’t fault what he has done.”

Despite his impressive start, Yarde admits he still has a long way to go if he is to reach the top but he is prepared to put in the hard work.

He is already ranked the fifth-best light-heavyweight in the world by the WBO.

Yarde added: “Patience is the key and I have a lot to learn, but I would say that I am ahead of schedule at this stage of my career. I have been very busy having so many fights since I turned pro. To have 13 in little more than two years is a lot by modern standards.

“But I had a short amateur career (just 12 fights) and I want to be active. I train hard, but having a fight on the cards so often gives me targets and focus.”

Yarde, who trains at Canning Town’s Peacock Gym, onced used by Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis, added: “I’m doing some of my learning in public because I have gained some attention.

“But that is not a worry — it comes with achieving things. You have to aim at the stars — and my aim is to unify the light-heavyweight division and do it at cruiserweight.

“And if my body is up to it, I’d like eventually to go to heavyweight, too. You have to have plans. But the important thing first is to do your job in the ring. If you do that properly, then success will come.”

Yarde v Sjekloca and DeGale v Truax will be televised live this Saturday night on BoxNation and BT Sport.

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