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00:00Okay, don't play with tight gloves.
00:03As mentioned earlier on, this is very much a home game for Anthony Yard from Ilford,
00:08which is just a few miles up the road.
00:21So the ball goes Yard in the white,
00:24and Gold comes in the maroon, and down he goes straight away.
00:29The first right hander was thrown by Anthony Yard,
00:33and it puts de Laffeyen down.
00:37That might not even have been 10 seconds.
00:42And he hits him with another one straight away.
00:54Vilkan is just prodding with that jab. Yard not going crazy here.
01:04You can see he's just trying to set it up, isn't he?
01:06He's jabbing the body, using the feints,
01:08trying the little long lead left hook, just seeing where the opening is.
01:15Vilkan certainly caught cold there, wasn't he?
01:18And then before the fight starts, he's standing still,
01:22not with that intense look about him, just a bit too relaxed.
01:27Nice straight right. Sorry, George. Nice right hand to the body there from Yard.
01:36Vilkan tries to move in behind his own jab and throw the right hand.
01:40Yard steps in, dips his knees, right hand into the body.
01:44He's targeting that body. You see the red mark in there.
01:46The straight right hand to the body is good.
01:48Don't be surprised then if he feints the right hand to the body
01:50and then switches it upstairs.
01:52Good with the feints, Yard.
02:17Even sometimes just the bend of the knee or lean one way,
02:21that can be enough to sort of shimmy, to give you the feint.
02:25Then look to land the left hook there, Yard.
02:27He just about managed to drop that right elbow on it there, Vilkan.
02:30It's into the final minutes of this first round.
02:33It's scheduled for ten. Nice stiff jab there from Yard, popped up from the waist.
02:51There's that jab again.
02:53Doesn't travel too far, but explodes up into the eyeline.
02:59Well, added to them feints that Matt picked up on.
03:02You can see Yard wants the chap in front of him to throw punches.
03:05So when he does lay his hands, he just drifts back a couple of little short steps.
03:11He hasn't punished him yet for it, but you can see he's just waiting.
03:14He's trying to set something up.
03:22OK, so the end of round one, we certainly have an eventful start to it.
03:32There goes the bell.
03:39And down he goes, Vilkan, with that very first right hand.
03:43It was as quick a knockdown as you were likely to see.
03:52Ready?
03:59Just dicked the knee, Yard, as if he was going to go to the body,
04:02and then just came over the top with a jab with the right hand.
04:05Vilkan was moving away from it, so the power had gone out of it,
04:09but it was still a legitimate knockdown. Good shot.
04:12That's what kind of saved Vilkan's, I think, there, George, wasn't it?
04:15That the punch was at the end of its journey pretty much by the time it landed.
04:20Yeah, he got up and he went to make a gesture of,
04:23that's not a knockdown, I think more maybe out of embarrassment,
04:26getting dropped so quickly.
04:36More purpose about Vilkan at the start of round two.
04:38He does hold those hands pretty high, the elbows are flared out,
04:44so he does present that body that Yard was taking in that first round,
04:48as he does there, just stoops right hand into the body, as Matt was pointing out.
04:52Nice jab there from Yard, who was also just up to the gear in the second here so far.
05:18Let's go.
05:21Vilkan's just short with the right hand. He's happy to engage here.
05:26Yeah, which I think Yard will be happy about.
05:28It's going to give him a lot of opportunities to counter.
05:35One-two didn't quite reach there from Yard.
05:38He rolled away off the back of it.
05:41Keep your eyes open.
05:46I think the jab to the body, right hand over the top would be a shot,
05:49that would work for Yard.
05:58Here's a better round from Vilkan. He is landing that jab.
06:03He's trying to find the right hand off of it.
06:05You know what's coming.
06:11There you go.
06:12Looking for the right hand there, Yard.
06:14It was half-blocked, I think, by the shoulder there of Vilkan's.
06:23And Vilkan's, a lot of the time, George, does move almost exclusively to his left-hand side.
06:29He certainly is this round, but there is more purchase on his punches.
06:34Of course, the more you commit, sometimes the easier it is to be countered,
06:37but it was the right idea for him because if he wasn't putting anything on them punches,
06:43then Yard was literally having free reign to slip and fire back.
06:51Just look for the uppercut there, Vilkan's.
06:53Didn't quite get through clean, but as George was just saying,
06:57he's thrown plenty this round.
06:59He's been happy to engage.
07:00He's been looking to be as positive as possible.
07:02Yard looking for that right hand over the top.
07:05He's got to mix that movement up, though, Vilkan's.
07:07Otherwise, Yard's just going to walk him onto a right hand.
07:13That's better. That's nice work.
07:14Put combinations together as well.
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07:53Just going for a break.
07:55I want to break free.
07:59Oh, hey, just a minute.
08:00I'm just going for a break.
08:01I want to break free.
08:06But life still goes on.
08:08Have a break. Have a KitKat.
08:18So into the third.
08:19Anthony Yard in the white, gold and black.
08:22Rouse Vilkan's of Latvia in the red and white.
08:26He was put down after about 10 seconds at the start of the first round, Vilkan's.
08:30But has recovered pretty well since then.
08:32He wasn't really hurt by it.
08:34I think more embarrassed and look to try and mix things up more in that second round.
08:39Yard reaching a bit for the 1-2 there at the start of the third.
08:44Well, he threw plenty in round two, Vilkan.
08:46So, you know, Yard's, there are going to be openings for Yard to come over the top or come inside the jab.
08:53Between rounds, Tunde Oje telling Yard to take the body shots when they're on offer.
08:59Does he need to put the hammer down a bit in this round, George?
09:02Because when you start the way that he did start, although he wouldn't have got too carried away with it.
09:06And when you're under pressure to deliver tonight, which he absolutely is.
09:10You don't want this turning into a long, drawn out, tricky affair with your opponent getting some wind in their sails.
09:16No, definitely not.
09:18He's finding purchase on it.
09:20And Yard, who wants to punch off of that jab, he's finding it a bit more difficult,
09:23which you could imagine when you get touched with a jab, then it's harder to punch off of it.
09:28He wants to get back and start landing his jab, in my opinion.
09:30If, you know, from there, he's got a fantastic jab, Yard.
09:34He's knocking Vilkan out of his stride.
09:36And then he can look for the heavy shots that follow.
09:38So, you know, he's got a bit of an advantage.
09:40He's got a bit of an advantage.
09:42He's knocking Vilkan out of his stride.
09:44And then he can look for the heavy shots that follow.
09:47His corner's asking to throw more body shots.
09:50Good one there, went in with the right hand.
09:53I think that's the way to settle the guy in front of him.
09:59Come on, Yard.
10:00Come on, Yard.
10:03Come on, Yard.
10:04Come on, Yard.
10:05Come on, Yard.
10:06Come on, Yard.
10:07Come on, Yard.
10:08Come on, Yard.
10:09Come on, Yard.
10:10Come on, Yard.
10:11Come on, Yard.
10:12Come on, Yard.
10:13Come on, Yard.
10:14Come on, Yard.
10:15Come on, Yard.
10:16Come on, Yard.
10:17Come on, Yard.
10:18Come on, Yard.
10:19Come on, Yard.
10:20Come on, Yard.
10:21Come on, Yard.
10:22Come on, Yard.
10:23Come on, Yard.
10:24Come on, Yard.
10:25Come on, Yard.
10:26Come on, Yard.
10:27Come on, Yard.
10:28Come on, Yard.
10:29Come on, Yard.
10:30Come on, Yard.
10:31Come on, Yard.
10:32Come on, Yard.
10:33Come on, Yard.
10:34Come on, Yard.
10:35Come on, Yard.
10:36Come on, Yard.
10:37Come on, Yard.
10:38Come on, Yard.
10:39Come on, Yard.
10:40Come on, Yard.
10:41Come on, Yard.
10:42Come on, Yard.
10:43Come on, Yard.
10:44Come on, Yard.
10:45Come on, Yard.
10:46Come on, Yard.
10:47Come on, Yard.
10:48Come on, Yard.
10:49Come on, Yard.
10:50Come on, Yard.
10:51Come on, Yard.
10:52Come on, Yard.
10:53Come on, Yard.
10:54Come on, Yard.
10:55Come on, Yard.
10:56Come on, Yard.
10:57Come on, Yard.
10:58Come on, Yard.
10:59Come on, Yard.
11:00Come on, Yard.
11:01Come on, Yard.
11:02Come on, Yard.
11:03Come on, Yard.
11:04Come on, Yard.
11:05Come on, Yard.
11:06Come on, Yard.
11:07Come on, Yard.
11:08Come on, Yard.
11:09Come on, Yard.
11:10Come on, Yard.
11:11Come on, Yard.
11:12Come on, Yard.
11:13Come on, Yard.
11:14Come on, Yard.
11:15Come on, Yard.
11:16Come on, Yard.
11:17Come on, Yard.
11:18Come on, Yard.
11:19Come on, Yard.
11:20Come on, Yard.
11:21Come on, Yard.
11:22He's with Adam Azeem.
11:23So, Adam, fight week's been a little reserved.
11:24You've got a lot of respect for each other.
11:25Yeah.
11:26Are you keen to make sure that that respect doesn't pass over into the ring?
11:27Look, we've both got respect for each other, but when that first bell goes, we're both
11:28going to be straight into fight mode.
11:29So, you know, I'm ready for fight mode, and I'm looking forward to it.
11:30How keen are you to make a statement tonight?
11:31You know what?
11:32He's a world title contender, and this is a big, massive step up.
11:33So, you know, I'm going to make a statement.
11:34I'm going to make a statement.
11:35I'm going to make a statement.
11:36I'm going to make a statement.
11:37I'm going to make a statement.
11:38I'm going to make a statement.
11:39I'm going to make a statement.
11:40I'm going to make a statement.
11:41I'm going to make a statement.
11:42I'm going to make a statement.
11:43I'm going to make a statement.
11:44I'm going to make a statement.
11:45I'm going to make a statement.
11:46I'm going to make a statement.
11:47I'm going to make a statement.
11:48I'm going to make a statement.
11:49I'm going to make a statement.
11:50I'm going to make a statement.
11:51I'm going to make a statement.
11:52I'm going to make a statement.
11:53I'm going to make a statement.
11:54I'm going to make a statement.
11:55I'm going to make a statement.
11:56I'm going to make a statement.
11:57I'm going to make a statement.
11:58I'm going to make a statement.
11:59I'm going to make a statement.
12:00I'm going to make a statement.
12:01I'm ready.
12:02I'm ready.
12:03I'm ready.
12:04I'm ready.
12:05I'm ready.
12:06I'm ready.
12:07I'm ready.
12:08I'm ready.
12:09I'm ready.
12:10I'm ready.
12:11I'm ready.
12:12I'm ready.
12:13I'm ready.
12:14I'm ready.
12:15I'm ready.
12:16I'm ready.
12:17I'm ready.
12:18I'm ready.
12:19I'm ready.
12:20I'm ready.
12:21I'm ready.
12:22I'm ready.
12:23I'm ready.
12:24I'm ready.
12:25I'm ready.
12:26I'm ready.
12:27I'm ready.
12:28I'm ready.
12:29I'm ready.
12:31He's scheduled for ten in the light
12:33heavyweight division.
12:34Bilkan's looking for that right hand into the body and having got
12:37off to a terrible start, he's done pretty well since then.
12:42He's bringing it to yard whenever he's got the
12:44opportunities.
12:46Pretty well organized.
12:47He's not giving too much away and Yardz will be aware of that.
12:54He's very much in this fight, Bilkan.
12:57And he, and he's working head to body well when they come
12:59together, sometimes he's winning those exchanges and as you said earlier, Yard may be trying a
13:05little bit too hard, smothering his work, crowding his work, getting too close and then when they do
13:11come together, Wilkins is more often than not finishing the exchanges which can be the eye
13:17catching sort of shots for the judges sitting ringside. I agree George, I thought Yard started
13:22really well but I thought the last round he tightened up a little bit trying to force it a
13:25little, loading up on his shots instead of lost the flow of things a little bit.
13:32Yeah well Yard can punch hard, so use that to your advantage, go for quality over quantity,
13:38don't smother it, don't get tight but it always got to come off the jab, like that's a lovely jab
13:43there that he started that sequence of punches but then just sort of leaned forward and it's
13:49Wilkins again who finishes the exchange.
14:01A little marking under the eye there isn't there, under his left eye.
14:06There is, I was just looking at that myself, right hand into the body there from Yard and another one,
14:12a minute remaining in round four, good left hand into the body there from Wilkins and
14:16the right hand to the side of the head from Yard, he's just backing Wilkins up a little bit here.
14:25Some good body work from Yard in this round, Wilkins looking to try and
14:29reply in kind. Yeah Yard landed a nice right hand but it's been a stubborn response from Wilkins,
14:35he's not allowing Yard to overwhelm him or bully him. Keeping those elbows tucked in nice and tight
14:42as well, Yard's tried a few left hooks to the body but hasn't really got through yet.
14:48Uppercut from Yard was nice and crisp there and he's just looking to walk through Wilkins and
14:53walk him down a bit towards the end of the fourth here and Wilkins is landing some decent shots but
14:58there's just signs here that this is beginning to work for Anthony Yard, again that's the right
15:03hand to the body there from Wilkins, that is a good quality punch but he's bringing some heat
15:08here Yard George isn't he? Yeah Yard it seems like he's decided I'm just gonna bully the man in
15:13front of me, I'm gonna use brute strength rather than my skill to try and impose myself and win
15:18this fight but Wilkins was great that round, I thought that was a really good round for him.
15:24Okay let's go down ringside, Andy Scott is with Vidal Riley. Vidal I thought we were gonna have
15:30a 10 second job there, Ralph Wilkins has done pretty well to stay in there. Yes and a good
15:34flash knockdown but it seems that's all it was, he's here to fight, he's enjoying it, you see the
15:38facial expressions, he's here for it today. You're the voice of the fans for me now, what do you
15:43reckon, are we gonna get Anthony Yard, Joshua Boazzi in 2025? Tell me, you're on the box in
15:48Grapevine, can we get it done? I hope so, that's all I can say, I hope so, it's a fight that obviously
15:53I want to see, everyone wants to see, very big fight so hopefully in the new year. You've had
15:57your frustrations, where are you at injury wise now, fit, firing, ready to go? Fully recovered and
16:02ready to fight. Want to call anyone out? No I just want to get back in the ring, that's all I want to do,
16:07I want to get back in the ring and see what happens from there. Keeping it cool, I like that, good to see you.
16:16So into the fifth
16:20and that facial damage for Wilkins is getting a little bit worse towards the end of that
16:24previous round and I bet you're absolutely right, George Wilkins has given as good as he's got in
16:29there, he's done some good stuff in that fourth round but Anthony Yard I think fancies himself now
16:35just to beast him basically and that's the best way to go about this. I'm sure he would have loved to
16:41pick some beautiful clean shots, not have a glove laid on him and win that way but
16:46that's not how he's going to do this now. No, you know he's got punch power Yard, it might end up
16:53being a shot out of the blue, so to speak, where he just you know reacts to a punch come at him,
17:02quick defense and then fire off of that shot, that might be the one that catches Wilkins
17:07when he doesn't see it and puts him away but at this point like that, that's a lovely right
17:14hand lead through there and now just following it with a body attack and a right hand up to the head
17:19and the legs just gave a little bit there for Wilkins, that was a beautiful right handy through
17:24it so quick, close the gap nice and quick and we got a great view of it, you could see the George just
17:30judder. Yeah I feel like Yard's kind of giving up on the I'm going to do this the nice clean way,
17:36even I've got to take one to land one now, I just want to get this guy out of there.
17:42Credit to Wilkins though, he sets his feet and looks to try and work the body there,
17:46good right hand from him to turn that over really nicely but Yard just walks through it.
18:03Just looking at Wilkins as he's leaning over Yard's shoulder right up above us,
18:09he's just getting busted up in there now, right hand from Wilkins was a good shot again but Yard
18:14came back with his own right which was heavier.
18:22And the mouth hanging open there of Wilkins a little bit as we head into the final minute of
18:26round five, good combination there from the Latvian, curls that right hand in round the back
18:32of the guard again, the problem he's got George is that although he's landing it's not really getting
18:37a reaction from Yard but he's sticking to it, no and you know that's the best that he can do at
18:42this point. They're full force, he's throwing them as hard as he can, they seem to be bouncing
18:47off of Yard but Yard, he doesn't really want to be taking them shots. This is where he'll have
18:54success Yard, when he, that change of pace when them shots come out just a fraction faster than
18:59the ones prior. Catch Wilkins when he's not quite ready for it, he's not quite expected and that's
19:06where they have the the real dramatic effect. Good uppercut on the inside there from Yard right
19:12at the end of round five, Wilkins steps his feet then comes back with his own left hand,
19:17top effort this from the away fighter.
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20:29The second half of the fight that quite a few people didn't predict that Ralph
20:34Wilkins would get this far but he's given us a good display on all fronts up until this stage.
20:42Yard looking for that right hand, there's a left hand into the body there I think and a bit of a grimace from
20:48Wilkins and he's backed up to the ropes here and maybe in a touch of trouble.
20:54It's been a stubborn, rugged response though from Wilkins, he hasn't rolled over. Yard tried to overpower him a little bit in that last round but he stood up to him.
21:11Yard backs him up to the ropes again here, Wilkins manages just about to turn off them and get a hold of him.
21:24But he was hurt at the start of the round there Wilkins and I'm not
21:27totally sure he's completely shrugged that off. Yard just needs to up things a touch here,
21:36turn that screw. Right hand from Yard, Wilkins backing up, backing off and there's not as much
21:41conviction and commitment in those punches now from him. He's trying to keep Yard off but increasingly
21:47it's becoming more and more difficult although as I say that again he just sets his feet and
21:51throws a good right hand there. Yeah Yard may be having a bit of a breather in this round as well
21:59and he's marching Wilkins down but not with any you know
22:07any menace, he's not loaded either leg to punch off of Wilkins, that was a nice right hand from him
22:14but again he just walks in hands high and Wilkins then just tries to take advantage of that and
22:19lets his hands go, that's the safest thing he can do at that point.
22:27Credit to Wilkins, he looked in trouble at the start of the round
22:31but he's hanging in there and he's landed good shots himself, he has done all the way through.
22:37You know I think Yard just walking forward looking for the big shot, that was better
22:41putting combinations together. You have to see that's loading up looking for the single shot
22:47I don't know if he'll catch Wilkins who won those, he's
22:50probably a bit too cute but I think he's got to push shots together to get this guy out of there.
22:59Closing stages of the sixth round, left hand there from Yard.
23:08Wilkins throws the uppercut and doubles up on the hook, left into the body.
23:13Yeah good work from Wilkins, nice one two.
23:32And this is the start of the round, left hook to the body that really seemed to register.
23:36Yeah that was a good shot, those glancing ones, floating ribs,
23:42could be signers, you can see that winded in there, you can see the grimace on his face.
23:51Yeah you see it looked like, those shots that look like they've almost missed but they've
23:55just glanced it, glanced the floating rib area, they could be signers and he jumped down there.
23:59I think Wilbill can still survive that moment.
24:08That's the scene in the copper box.
24:14Adam Azim against O'Hara Davis to cover and then Dan Aziz takes on Lou Edmondson. Aziz looking to
24:19regain that British light heavyweight title and win the Lonsdale belt outright. Azim looking to take
24:25a step closer to that world level and maybe a fight against Dalton Smith, we'd all love to see
24:34that. O'Hara Davis has got other ideas into the seventh round here and Anthony Yard has been given
24:40a tougher test here probably than many people imagined he would be.
24:48The field count has been really competitive all the way through this George, he probably hasn't
24:52got much on the cards but that's just the way boxing scored isn't it, he's landed some good
24:57good shots. No he really has and as I say sometimes when they come together, like here he wants to
25:02finish the exchange, it's the last one to to land before they separate and they can be, they can be
25:09the shots that score you the round. I think this is where Yard is dangerous, is a little
25:16dip to the right and that right hand comes over quick but sometimes it lands perfect,
25:21sometimes it comes over that front foot and it sort of gets smothered. I don't think he's enjoying
25:27being hit, as silly as that sounds Andy, no one likes getting hit but Yard maybe didn't expect to
25:33get caught as much as he is tonight and it's throwing him off his clean work. Yeah I think
25:40it's been a stubborn spirited performance from Bill Cairns and I think Yard at times looks frustrated
25:47in there, annoyed at himself, loaded up, forcing. Just trying to set about Bill Cairns here who turns his back
25:58a little bit too much maybe on the ropes just above us, referee Victor Lockton having a close
26:03look and he's got a whole of Yard on the inside there just trying to smother him,
26:07we've given Bill Cairns plenty of props and correctly so, Yard has been out of the ring for a
26:11good while so that's not always the easiest thing to cope with, you're not always going to come back
26:18super sharp but given that he wants to get back to world level outside with Joshua Buatsi, what do
26:24you make of this so far from him? I think it's been a mixed performance, I think you know he scored
26:29that knock down the first round might be the worst thing that could have happened because then he
26:32probably, oh good nice left hook there from Yard, I mean he's always looked like he's the boss in
26:38there but he's been at work at times in some of the rounds from Bill Cairns, who pretty you know
26:46basic in his shots but he's ineffective and he's busy, you know a good body shot there going you
26:50see the elbow dipping a little bit from Yard there, so yeah he's been busy Bill Cairns and
26:56he hasn't really, he hasn't rolled over from the onslaughts of Yard when he has put shots together,
27:03absolutely Matt and he hasn't missed, like he's been very accurate especially now,
27:09leaning into him, his feet are not in a good position at that point so he can't really
27:14work on the defense, and Bill Cairns he'll go head, body, bring it around the side, up through the middle,
27:21it's been very impressive of him.
27:27I don't think it's been a vintage Yard.
27:31So coming up next we've got Adam Azeem up against Zohara Davis, Shane McGuigan on the pads there,
27:37he's got experience of a win over Davis from earlier in his career when he was cornering
27:43Josh Taylor of course, it's a long time ago now that, and here is Zohara Davis whose corner
27:54will be led by Carlos Moreno, that's not Carlos Moreno taking him on the pads there,
28:00those two have known each other for a good while, Davis and Moreno, but it's
28:04the first time for that trainer leading a corner on fight night, so
28:13a lot of pressure on him as well, Davis is a veteran,
28:17he's been around the scene for a long time, so into the eighth round here.
28:33Left hand into the body there from Bill Cairns with the right uppercut.
29:03The dynamic of the fight as you've both been saying has been Yard on the front foot,
29:09looking to walk Bill Cairns down increasingly from about round four onwards, but as you've
29:14been saying George, Bill Cairns has landed some good good shots, he's landed some clean punches
29:19and although they haven't had any effects on Yard, they still count, they're still landing.
29:24No absolutely, and he could be getting some change from the judges for those,
29:28he should be getting change from the judges for those, it's just always been Yard who's
29:32looked like the boss. He's got behind his jab a little bit more in this round Yard and I think
29:40it's to his, it suits him, you know, he can't be lazy with his defenses because
29:49Bill Cairns is accurate and he will punch.
29:54Yeah just because these punches might not be hurting Yard doesn't mean that I'm scoring.
29:58Right hand from Yard was into the side of the head there, yeah the good round in that previous
30:06round Bill Cairns, that would have been a Bill Cairns round I'm pretty confident and Yard is always in
30:13danger in this kind of fight, any fighter is, that whilst you're looking for that big salvo, that big
30:17attack whilst you're not managing to do it and your opponent is chipping away, they're landing those
30:23shots, the judges are seeing them, they might be picking up a bit more on the cards than you would
30:27like them to, there's two more to go after this.
30:35How many times he's been outlanded, outworked.
30:41That's why I raise it really, if it keeps going like this, if Bill Cairns finishes well
30:50then this might not be too far apart on the scores.
30:57Good combination from Bill Cairns again, right uppercut on the inside.
31:09Yard looking to come forward, just leaning into Bill Cairns.
31:19Okay let's go ringside, Andy Scott, this is with Chris Willemsmith.
31:30Chris, just wondering what you're making of this one, fair play to Ralph Ilkins, he's been a tough
31:34nut to crack. Yeah he hasn't stopped throwing back, you know he keeps getting nailed and then coming
31:38straight back, so I think Yard probably switched off a little bit at times and just
31:43allowed him to, Ralph get some work on. As is the modern world, you've been on everyone's hit list,
31:49you've got unifications to take care of, but I think Yard's called you out hasn't he, he wants a
31:53bit of Chris Willemsmith action. Yeah I think he needs to deal with this man next to me, you know
31:58in Josh Buatze first, I think that's a fight that every British fan wants to see,
32:02but yeah look I've got a couple of fights before I think, so I'm thinking about him.
32:06Have a word, you're in his ear, do some job.
32:12So a few fighters in a row there, Willemsmith, Lee Cutler, Connor Bent,
32:16Joshua Buatze,
32:21so two to go.
32:24He's not going to get the stoppage here Yard, he needs to finish this strong,
32:28just to make absolutely sure,
32:34and also just to try and put his stamp on matters here, good jab there from Yard.
32:40He's definitely lost some rounds here Yard, so you know depending on how many,
32:46I think this is competitive, like it might come down to that first,
32:50that first 10 second knockdown, the 10-8 round. Would you have a 5-3 George at this point?
32:56Yeah, I've got Vilk had the three rounds, and I think one of those I gave to Yard.
33:07Well that's why I voiced it as a topic for discussion, because you see fights like this
33:14relatively often, where one fighter looks like he might be on the brink of making that crucial
33:19breakthrough, but whilst they're looking for it, and it's not quite happening, and the other fighter
33:23is doing exactly what Vilkans is doing here. Yeah, again you see Yard just coming forward,
33:28not really thinking, not really respecting what's coming back, but Vilkans, he's landing shots,
33:35firing back, and he hasn't, he hasn't rolled over for Yard, he's just firing back, and landing more
33:41shots, he's at landing Yard here, and again he is a good combination from Vilkans, Yard looking for
33:48that right hand over the top, didn't quite get through with it, but Vilkans has spent a significant
33:54amount of time boxing off the back foot, but that don't mean that you're not winning the round, or
33:59you're not, you know, exactly, you know, it's not always the guy marching forward who's the guy in
34:03control, but it has to be effective aggression. Vilkans having a good round here again.
34:21Around the midway stage, Vilkans looked like he was feeling it, it looked like Yard might be able
34:26to just really put his foot down, and overwhelm him with volume really, with sheer strength,
34:31with brute force, take him out, and Vilkans to his credit, just hasn't allowed it to happen,
34:36and now he's looking like he could finish strong here. He's finishing this round strong.
34:50There's a nice jab from Yard, needs more of those.
34:52This fight, by the way, being scored by referee Victor Lachlan,
35:02his card is the one that will count, Yard with the right hand into the body.
35:13Good combination again there from Vilkans, that goes at the end of the night,
35:18he went to touch gloves there around Vilkans, it wasn't reciprocated.
35:22And he heads back towards his corner.
35:36But there was a nice right hand to the body there, Yard, he falls in after it, but then
35:41Vilkans comes firing back, what combinations together and lands what, completely outlands
35:46Yard there, there's a nice jab, Yard, Vilkans certainly the busier of the two by far.
36:17Making them fall short, find the final home with a jab and then look for a big shot off of it.
36:24I think that the early knockdown was probably the worst that could have happened for Yard,
36:27I think he just went a bit knockout, looking for the single shot, wasn't he after that?
36:30Yeah, he really can, you can put you in that wrong frame of mind, full sense of security.
36:41So that's your card at home, you've got Yard up by a couple of points, he's at 10-8 in
36:46the first round of course.
36:51And I make that again a decent enough card. Yard has looked capable, particularly in those
37:00middle rounds of taking over, but Vilkans has never really allowed it to happen. Yard
37:04would just want to finish strong here, he needs to finish strong here to make absolutely sure.
37:15It may be an absolute disaster for Yard if he was to get beaten here, or even a draw.
37:26Good left hook from Yard. Just fired that one on the ropes, tucking up on the ropes,
37:31leaning into the chin behind the shoulder, now just looking like he wants to try and tempt
37:36Vilkans in a little bit, right hand into the body.
37:45Good right hand there from Vilkans.
38:04Yard with the jab, good shot, dropped the head back and then he follows it in, maybe that was
38:10what he's needed more of throughout the course of this fight. Moving off to the left as he throws
38:14the left hook and this is better from Yard. I think he definitely needed more jabs during the
38:18fight, you know instead of just trying to walk forward with your hands up looking for the big
38:21power shots, he's neglected his jab a lot in this fight Yard. Another cut has appeared underneath
38:27the right eye of Vilkans, but Yard here he's not falling over that front foot and then falling
38:32into range, this is when he's having much better work. And this chimes in with what the pair of
38:40you've been saying, it's like in this final round Yard has just forgotten about the idea that he's
38:45going to get a stoppage and just wants to win the round and he's winning the round.
38:53Doing the basics. Exactly.
38:58You're right and actually a lot more likely the knockout comes then
39:01when you go looking for it, it never does.
39:10There from Yard, big swing of the right hand there from Vilkans and he's in a big breath,
39:14final few seconds, he's not got too much left for Lampion and a brace between the two and the bell
39:21and Yard with a good finish to the fight there will have made things
39:30safe. As I say it's the referee Victor Loughlin who is scoring this one, Vilkans though put in
39:37one hell of a shift there, he got off to a terrible start when he was knocked down
39:4110 seconds in, but it wasn't a heavy knockdown and maybe after that Yard was a little bit
39:46right hand happy, maybe he did feel like the knockout would come. In the middle rounds
39:51it looked like he probably was capable of overwhelming Vilkans of really bringing that
39:57heat, but Vilkans to his credit dug in and just would not allow it to happen and he gave us a
40:04really good performance there Vilkans and this is how you've got it at home, so that trams
40:09legs to six rounds to Yard, three to Vilkans and one even. It's a spirited display
40:16from our visitor, it really is. Yard's been out of the ring for a good while,
40:20I'm sure he'll be as critical of his own performances as anybody else.
40:27As we await the final announcement, Big Mo I think is ready to go.
40:35Ladies and gentlemen, after 10 full rounds we go to referee Victor Loughlin for his official decision,
40:41he sees the contest 98 to 92, declaring your winner, Anthony the Beast from the East, Yard!
40:53So Anthony Yard gets it 98-92 with Victor Loughlin, so eight rounds to two, I don't think
40:58Vilkans has maybe been rewarded as much as he might have been on the scorecards there, as we
41:04were saying throughout the course of the fight, towards the end Yard just had to make absolutely
41:08sure that he closed the door there, because Vilkans was landing some good good shots,
41:12so maybe he's been a little bit short changed there, the Latvian eight rounds to two, but
41:16Anthony Yard has got the win and it'll be interesting to see his reaction to it, that's coming up shortly.
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42:13Well away from the boxing, there is plenty of NFL to feast your eyes on over the next few days,
42:21all culminating in tomorrow night, the Jets at the Steelers, 1.20am in the morning.
42:27You'll need to cup a coffee for that one on Sky Sports NFL.
42:31Well, we've just seen after eight months out of the ring, a win for Anthony Yard,
42:36perhaps though, not in the manner that he was quite hoping for.
42:40Let's see what he's got to say.
42:41He's with Andy Scott.
42:44Anthony, congratulations.
42:46What was that, 98-92 on the cards?
42:48Yes.
42:49Was that a harder night than you thought it would be against a very game and strong Rouse Vilkins?
42:53100%.
42:55In my career, I've had very little experience in terms of doing long rounds.
43:00So usually when I hit someone, the fight's done.
43:04I think the worst thing that happened was me dropping him in the first round.
43:07Because then I got content with like, okay, I'll knock out this guy anytime.
43:11And then, yeah, I mean, it's all experience.
43:14That's why in the last round, I said, you know what, let me just box.
43:18I might not knock him out this fight.
43:19Let me box, get a different kind of experience in.
43:22You'll have plenty of time to sort of analyse the performance and talk about with your coach
43:26what works, what didn't work.
43:27But I have to ask you about the future.
43:29Who and what do you want to do next?
43:30I mean, there's obviously a big name in our studio.
43:32There's plenty of talk about it.
43:34What do you want to do?
43:35I'll fight anybody.
43:37That's literally it, I'll fight anybody.
43:40Styles make fights.
43:42And I fought at the top of the mountain.
43:45Sometimes, again, who he's put in front of you
43:48might bring out the best version of you.
43:50So again, this is a last-minute opponent.
43:53So maybe mentally, I've got a bit complacent.
43:56So if they put Joshua Boatse in front of you, you'll say yes?
44:00I'll have to turn up.
44:01There's so many names.
44:02There's Joshua Boatse, there's Dan Aziz, Craig Richards.
44:05There's so many names in this British scene.
44:09Again, I fought twice at world level.
44:11Better be of...
44:12Before Beauvoir gave me his hardest fight.
44:15There's fights out there.
44:16But again, Joshua Boatse is one of the fights I want personally.
44:20There's names.
44:22Well done.
44:25Well done indeed to Anthony Yard.
44:26He got the job done, didn't he, this evening?
44:29Joshua Boatse, straight over to you.
44:31What do you make of it?
44:34Look, this was a routine fight.
44:37You know, he didn't get rid of him.
44:41We heard what he had to say.
44:42But look, I'm outside the ring.
44:44I'm comfortable.
44:45I won't say too much, but I know what I would have done without an opponent.
44:52The guys are looking for some instigation.
44:54But look, Yard fought, man.
44:56It is what it is.
44:57As I said, I promise you, I came out here to support Aziz.
44:59Yes, Yard is a name that you guys want to see me fight.
45:03Based on that, make your judgments.
45:05Based on that, are you more confident?
45:08I was confident before.
45:10And as you said, he said himself, if I'm boxing Boatse, I'll have to show up.
45:17We saw that.
45:18So it is what it is, man.
45:20I'm not going to start chatting rubbish about him and how he performed.
45:23I boxed, I think, a month ago, and I needed to show up.
45:26It wasn't my best performance, but we got the win.
45:29We got a few knockdowns.
45:31We put the men down in the first round.
45:34Guys should not have seen past round three, in my opinion.
45:37What do you think, Johnny?
45:38Like Joshua said there, round one, it almost looked like he was going to blow him away.
45:43And then it was almost like he was trying a little bit too hard to get rid of him.
45:46Anthony Yard himself, after the fight, very subdued.
45:49He knows there's a possibility he's going to get roasted right now
45:53because of that performance.
45:54Because that performance doesn't match what you're hearing,
45:58what the intentions are, what the conversation is, what his ability is.
46:02So I understand the frustration from both he and Tunde.
46:07I understand the frustration.
46:09The thing is this, if this is going to be pay-per-view with these two together,
46:14you've got to give the public a reason to say, I'm going to pay for that.
46:17So right now, that's not a good fight.
46:19It's a good fight of two domestic fighters.
46:22But you've got to give them a reason to say, I want to pay pay-per-view for that.
46:26But it's still a good, intriguing fight.
46:28They're just two humble, nice guys.
46:31That can fight.
46:32But they just need the opportunity to capture the public's imagination.
46:36And unfortunately, that performance there got to the point where I thought,
46:41he's getting pickpocketed here.
46:42And he's right.
46:43The first shot he did, he kind of got complacent.
46:46I thought, I've got this in the bag.
46:48I can take him out when I want.
46:49Then you learn a lesson going through.
46:51All fighters have to go through this at some point.
46:53We all make that mistake.
46:55Now there's a lot on the line here with these boys.
46:57So it's for Joshua Boettcher and Anthony Yard to sell this fight,
47:02to get the public to believe them.
47:04Well said, Johnny Nelson.
47:06Well said, indeed.
47:08Right, we are going to move on because coming up after the break,
47:11Adam Azeem looks to extend his unbeaten run and take on O'Hara Davis.