Anthony Yarde remains valiant in pursuing lifetime dream of a world title, but must answer one key question if he is to stun David Benavidez in Riyadh, writes JEFF POWELL

The Yarde bird flaps his wings in the Arabian desert this Saturday night in yet another bid to win a world light-heavyweight title.

The portents are no more promising than for his two previous attempts to upset stellar champions but Anthony Yarde vows to put up another performance worthy of his street-fighting origins.

The betting odds are heavily against the Beast From The East - the East End of London that is - as he takes on the undefeated David Benavidez in Riyadh but he remains as valiant as ever in his belief that he can fulfill his lifetime ambition.

Yarde boldly went to Russia as a late-starting professional novice in 2019 to take on Sergey Kovalev. The Krusher was a smidgin past his prime and was pushed hard until he landed an 11th round knock out as his challenger faded after the eighth.

Fast forward to 2023 and Yarde believed he was ready for the formidable unified world champion Artur Beterbiev. 

Again he fought well and home-town scoring by two of the three judges at Wembley Arena had him ahead at the end of the seventh round, even though his opponent had thrown and landed almost twice as many punches. 

Another of those embarrassing miscarriages of justice against foreigners in a British ring was averted in the eighth as Beterbiev dropped Yarde, whose corner threw in the towel to save their man from the ensuing barrage.

Now for the WBC champion who, not for nothing, is known as the Mexican Monster. There is some justification to claims by David Benavidez that he has been swerved thus far by the triumvirate of Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol and Canelo Alvarez.

For the American born Benavidez this weekend in Saudi Arabia is a means for keeping active while he waits for either Beterbiev or Bivol to prevail in their delayed and decisive trilogy battle.

For Yarde the issue remains the same as that which dogged his two previous visits to the summit. Has his unorthodox training been modified enough to improve his stamina in the latter stages of big fights? There really is no substitute for dawn runs, whatever the weather, and hard sparring in the gym.

Can it be third time lucky? He says: 'I feel stronger than ever and even more convinced that I can beat absolutely anyone.'

At 34, this may be Yarde's last chance of strapping on the green and gold WBC belt which is 'the one I've always coveted.'

If it is not be, then at least this weekend's Riyadh Season paymasters will send him home with a healthy retirement package.