WBO Purse Bids Notice – Interim Light Heavyweight Joshua Buatsi / Anthony Yarde
Anthony Yarde (25-3, 24KO) has informed the WBO on May 16 that he is withdrawing from the purse bids for the ordered Interim light-heavyweight title fight with Joshua Buatsi (18-0, 13KO) because he and his promoter, Queensberry Promotions, are in a dispute resolution procedure over their contract.
The WBO has ordered purse bids for June 7 regardless and given 32-year-old Yarde a 72-hour deadline to personally confirm whether he will participate or not.
On May 8, the WBO allowed the parties 10 days to negotiate or purse bids would be ordered. However, on May 16, the WBO confirmed receipt of correspondence by Blue Trinity Solicitors, on behalf of Anthony Yarde, advising in summary that Queensberry and Yarde are currently in a dispute resolution procedure regarding a contractual matter between the parties, and consequently, Yarde formally withdrawing from the negotiations ordered and any purse bid proceedings and the proposed contest, as he is unavailable.
Terms were reportedly agreed earlier in March, but Yarde complained about unrealistic demands from Buatsi, “There’s a lot of back and forth in negotiations. A lot of unrealistic wants and things like that from certain people.
“We’ll see what happens. I want the fight. He’s saying he wants the fight. It’s about trying to get a fair deal going, and trying to make the fight happen for ourselves and the fans.
“Nothing’s been agreed yet. With the negotiations there’s so much different things being said – hopefully we can finalise something.”
Trained by Tunde Ajayi, the Londoner is a two-time world title contender, and was last in action in February, where he dismantled overmatched opponent Marko Nikolic within three rounds at the Copper Box Arena.
Buatsi was also last out in February, he defeated Dan Azeez to win the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles and immediately called for the fight with Yarde next.
However, it appears there may be too many obstacles in the way, which will be a big disappointment for British boxing fans.