Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde Picks and Predictions: Beterbiev to Slug His Way to Dominant Win

Artur Beterbiev defends his WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde in a 12-round attraction this weekend from the OVO Arena in London, England.

This is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of fight, with both fighters known for stopping their opponents in short order.

Beterbiev is the heavy favorite at -900 to retain his titles. Former title challenger Yarde hopes to upset the champion as a +500 underdog.

Here are our boxing picks and predictions for Beterbiev vs. Yarde from London.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of January 28, 2022.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde betting predictions

• Pick: Artur Beterbiev (-900)
• Best Bet: Beterbiev by KO/TKO/DQ (-370)

Picks made on January 28. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde betting preview

Beterbiev is 18-0 with 18 knockouts, and he was considered the best light heavyweight in the division until Dmitry Bivol's monster year in 2022.

Bivol’s superstar turn doesn’t take away from Beterbiev being a fistic force of nature and an absolute monster. The Russian champion possesses power in both hands, excellent boxing fundamentals, and he's been fighting top competition since practically turning pro in 2013. He's logged wins over Gabriel Campillo, Tavoris Cloud, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and Joe Smith Jr.

The unified champion gets results quickly, with an average fight time of 4.6 rounds. He’s been stepping up his competition lately, but Beterbiev has been knocking opponents out all the same. While Beterbiev’s age (38) is a red flag, he doesn’t rely on athleticism or gimmicks to execute his offense.

Yarde's hands will be full, so it’s a good thing he can punch. He’s 23-2 with 22 knockouts and an average fight time of 3.6 rounds. Yarde is the more athletic and explosive of the two, but he's suffered a few setbacks that have prevented him from breaking out on the world stage.

The veteran started strong against Sergey Kovalev in 2019, even hurting him badly during the opening rounds of their fight. But Kovalev beat him up and stopped Yarde late. He went back to the regional circuit, suffering a shocking defeat to Lyndon Arthur in 2020. Yarde has won three straight since, including a rematch victory over Arthur.

This isn't likely to be a tactical battle. These two are punchers, and they're going to show that off after getting a feel for each other. Yarde needs to get the jump on Beterbiev with his speed and explosiveness. Otherwise, he’ll succumb to the almost numbing effect of Beterbiev’s punches.

There might be a gap in talent that the Hackney native needs to overcome, but it’s up to Beterbiev to follow through.

Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde boxing prediction and best bet

Prediction: Beterbiev to win (-900 at DraftKings)

Yarde hasn't improved since a compromised and fading Kovalev beat him in 2019. If anything, he’s remained the same kind of fighter who relies on his athleticism and a quick release instead of developing a more complete approach. That might cut it on the London circuit, but it’s clear he’s fighting right at his ceiling.

Beterbiev has been beating better opponents than Yarde from the start of his career. Though Beterbiev tends to charge into punches, that seems to happen when he’s fighting opponents who aren’t trying to slug it out with him. If Yarde couldn’t outrun the likes of Kovalev or Arthur, Beterbiev won’t need much time to deliver a big shot.

Then again, Beterbiev is at an age when things can change overnight. He did turn pro relatively late, but he’s been active and is just at the point when his body can begin betraying him. That may happen yet, but the matchup against Yarde is still an ideal one.

Beterbiev is the better boxer in skill and execution. Yarde might be the superior one-shot puncher, but his shots run out of steam if he doesn't land one early. This is looking like a one-sided affair.

Prediction: Beterbiev (-900 at DraftKings)

Best Bet: Beterbiev by KO/TKO/DQ (-370 at DraftKings)

It’s hard to pinpoint when Beterbiev will stop Yarde. When opponents bullrush him, he doesn’t need to work hard to put them down. However, he does tend to go slower and box when faced with cerebral foes, breaking them down gradually.

Yarde can make it past the opening rounds with his firepower, but those efforts might deplete him midway through the fight. There's been an average of 7.2 rounds during Beterbiev’s last five fights, but those were against opponents who opted to box instead of brawl.

We’ll ride with Beterbiev stopping Yarde being a practical inevitability, bringing the betting line down to a manageable -370.

Prediction: Beterbiev by KO/TKO/DQ (-370 at DraftKings)

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