Englishman Anthony Yard (23-2, 22 KOs) will meet the WBO, WBC and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) from Russia on January 28 at the OVO Arena in London. Yard recently stated that he had been in contact with Oleksandr Usyk, former undisputed heavyweight champion and current WBO, WBA, IBF heavyweight champion. Usyk fought Beterbiev three times as an amateur, winning twice and losing once.
"We're listening," Yard said in an interview with SecondsOut.com. - When such a student of this sport as Usyk gives me advice - he was with me at the Fury-Chisora fight - I always listen. As a person, I am very humble when it comes to learning."
At the same time, Yard did not specify what kind of advice Usyk gave him on the fight with Beterbiev. "It's between me and him," Yard said.
“He just told me something,” Yard continued. - He fought Beterbiev twice. He just told me some things. Just a little advice, some things. He is a wonderful guy. When you see how I smile and laugh, it's all sincere. The mustache is exactly the same. He is a cheerful person, but he knows how to fight."
“Yes, the main thing is to be a student and try to learn. Everyone will criticize you if something goes wrong, but when everything goes well, there is an awkward silence. Everyone expresses their opinion only about the next fight, ”added Yard.
Yard, 31, is the mandatory challenger for Beterbiev, the WBO champion who won the belt when he stopped Joe Smith Jr. in the second round in June in New York.
Beterbiev, 37, and Yarde were originally scheduled to fight in late October, but their fight had to be postponed for several months after Beterbiev realized he needed more time to recover from surgery on his right knee, which he underwent immediately after the fight with Smith.
