Anthony Yarde’s comeback is still waiting on the second half of a deal that included his fight with David Benavidez. The arrangement helps explain his inactivity, but waiting for another opportunity also delays the work of rebuilding after that defeat.
Yarde says that his agreement with Turki Alalshikh and SELA covered two fights, with disruption in the UAE contributing to the delay.
“I was meant to have a two-fight deal with Turki and SELA. The Benavidez fight was a two-fight deal. That’s also been a part of the delay [of getting back in the ring]. In the UAE, the bombings happened and things like that, so it did push things back a bit, but I’m patient,” Yarde said to talkSPORT Boxing.
That explanation gives the layoff some context. Yarde is describing plans affected by events outside the ring, rather than announcing that he has chosen to take an extended break. However, his comments offer no opponent or return date, leaving the practical question of when he boxes again unanswered.
Patience can make financial sense if the second fight brings another substantial payday and exposure on a major card. The sporting cost is harder to ignore. Training keeps a fighter prepared, but it cannot fully replace making decisions against an opponent who is trying to hurt him. Yarde needs competitive rounds to establish what he can still offer after Benavidez stopped him.
A comeback fight would also give him something fresh to build around. Until then, the Benavidez defeat remains the last performance fans have to judge, while active light heavyweights have opportunities to attract attention and move toward bigger fights.
The contract terms are unknown, so it would be a stretch to claim SELA is stopping Yarde from taking another bout. What he has confirmed is that the two-fight arrangement has contributed to the wait.
Yarde may be comfortable being patient. Whether that patience helps his career depends on the fight that eventually arrives—and how much more time passes before it does.