Benavidez and Yarde Headline Championship-Stacked Card in Riyadh Showdown

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A quartet of world title bouts will converge on Riyadh this Saturday, as David Benavidez defends his WBC light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde in the main event. The card will also feature Brian Norman Jr. against Devin Haney for the WBO welterweight title, Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez versus Fernando Martinez in a unification clash for the WBC and WBO junior bantamweight titles against the WBA title, and Abdullah Mason facing Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight championship.

Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes – For the Vacant WBO Lightweight Championship

Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs), a 21-year-old American prospect, has garnered attention since turning professional in 2021. His career trajectory has followed a conventional path, starting with lower-level opponents before progressing to more challenging matchups. In his most recent outing, Mason faced Jeremia Nakathila, with Nakathila unable to continue after the fourth round.

Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs), a 28-year-old British fighter, presents another undefeated contender. Similar to Mason, Noakes began his career against lesser competition, gradually accumulating victories over veterans such as Yvan Mendy and Ryan Walsh.

Mason is favored to win, with many believing he has the potential to become a significant force in the division. However, both fighters have yet to face substantial adversity in their careers. The bout is expected to provide valuable insights into the capabilities of both fighters.

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez – WBC/WBO/WBA Junior Bantamweight Unification Bout

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) experienced a breakthrough year in 2022 when he accepted a fight against Carlos Cuadras for the WBC super flyweight championship on short notice. Despite the sudden weight jump, Rodriguez secured the title and defended it twice against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before returning to flyweight. At flyweight, Rodriguez claimed two titles before moving back to super flyweight.

Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) is known for his aggressive fighting style. He captured the IBF title by defeating Jerwin Ancajas in 2022 and subsequently defended it in a rematch. He also has wins over Jade Bornea and Kazuto Ioka (twice).

Rodriguez is recognized for his tactical prowess and combination punching. Martinez will need to find a way to neutralize Rodriguez’s footwork and impose his will in exchanges. The fight is anticipated to be a highly competitive and potentially one of the best of the year.

Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney – For the WBO Welterweight Championship

Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) enters the fight as the more recognizable name. The former undisputed lightweight champion, Haney has participated in several high-profile fights. However, his recent fight against Ryan Garcia in April 2024 is memorable for Haney being dropped three times. While Garcia missed weight and failed drug tests, resulting in a no-contest, Haney appeared hesitant in his subsequent fight against Jose Ramirez in May.

Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) possesses significant power. Norman is currently on a career-best run, having won the interim WBO welterweight title by knocking out Giovani Santillan. He was later promoted to full champion when Terence Crawford vacated the belt. Norman has since recorded knockout victories over Derrieck Cuevas and Jin Sasaki.

Haney initially opened as a favorite but is now a slight underdog to Norman. The memory of Haney’s struggles against Garcia and his performance against Ramirez have influenced the odds. Norman could potentially secure the biggest win of his career.

David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde – For the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship

Both David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde have expressed intentions to engage in a high-action fight. Benavidez stated that he is prepared for a fan-friendly bout, recognizing Yarde’s aggressive style and knockout intentions.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) has solidified his position at light heavyweight after moving up in weight due to the lack of a fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Benavidez secured a victory over Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the WBC interim title and defended it with a win over David Morrell. Now, as the full champion, Benavidez will make his first defense against Yarde.

Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) has twice challenged for light heavyweight world titles, losing to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2023. In previous fights, Yarde faced criticism for his perceived lack of resilience. However, his fight against Beterbiev, where he displayed a willingness to fight through adversity, improved his reputation.

Benavidez is considered the superior fighter, but his power has not fully translated to the light heavyweight division. If Yarde replicates his performance against Beterbiev, he could potentially pull off an upset.