THE EXTRA YARDE

Light-heavyweight prospect gets his first proper test to close an impressive year

HYPED light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde gets his toughest test so far when he fights Montenegro’s Nikola Sjekloca over 12 rounds on the Copperbox bill.

Yarde, 26, defends his ratings-boosting WBO European and Inter-continental baubles but also his reputation as a devastating banger. The Ilford man has won all but one of his 13 fights inside the distance – and floored Stanislavs Makarenko before having to settle for a four-round verdict.

Sjekloca will test that, as he has never been stopped in a 32-4-1 (11) ledger. His losses all came in 12-rounders against quality super-middles: Sakio Bika (WBC final eliminator), Arthur Abraham (WBO title), Callum Smith and Tyron Zeuge. The Smith defeat, in Liverpool three years ago, saw Sjekloca lose clearly on points but survive the punches of a man who has notched several notable early wins.

And while Nikola may be 39, last time out in March he was still good enough to draw with former WBO 168lbs champ Robert Stieglitz in a European lightheavyweight title challenge.

So he figures to provide a severe test for Yarde [inset], who has been past round two only three times and is yet to be involved in a long, hard fight. Assuming his stamina holds out, Yarde can gain invaluable experience as he wins clearly on points with the tough Sjekloca surviving a knockdown or two.