Anthony Yarde reacts to shock Lyndon Arthur defeat: ‘I strongly feel that was a robbery’

BOXING ROUND-UP: Errol Spence Jr makes successful return to ring 14 months after car crash
Anthony Yarde was upset by British light-heavyweight rival Lyndon Arthur
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George Flood6 December 2020

Anthony Yarde feels he was the victim of a boxing “robbery” after being upset by rival Lyndon Arthur in the duo’s eagerly-anticipated light-heavyweight contest.

For the second weekend in a row and seven days after Joe Joyce defeated ascending heavyweight star Daniel Dubois, there was another sizable upset in all-British affair at Wesminster’s Church House on Saturday night.

After a close contest, the undefeated Arthur eventually earned a split-decision victory after the three judges returned scorecards of 111-117 (Yarde), 115-114 (Arthur) and 115-114 (Arthur).

The surprise victory saw Arthur retain his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title and also pick up the vacant WBO Inter-Continental belt, though Yarde was left less than impressed by the verdict as both men confirmed they would be eager to contest a rematch.

“If you look at who landed the cleaner, effective punches - the punches he landed were jabs. I landed my own jabs,” a frustrated Yarde told BT Sport.

"I need to go back and watch it. It’s boxing, you’re not going to go out there and be reckless. But from what I know happened in the ring, I was pressing the whole fight.

"This sums up 2020 for me. I’ll go back and watch the fight. Congratulations bro, but… I’ve got a strong mentality and I personally and strongly feel that was a robbery.

“I don’t like to scream the word robbery, but I feel like I won the fight.”

Arthur conceded there wasn’t much between the two fighters, saying: “I thought it was close. If the points would have went on his side, I wouldn’t have said it was a robbery. But it went to me, so I’m not going to say that either.”

Errol Spence Jr eased to victory over Danny Garcia on his return to the ring in Texas
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Elsewhere on Saturday night, Errol Spence Jr made a successful return to the ring against Danny Garcia.

The welterweight star dominated fellow American Danny Garcia to retain his WBC and IBF belts via unanimous decision - 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 - at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Spence Jr was fighting for the first time since a serious car accident in October 2019 that threatened to ruin his career.

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