British light‑heavyweight bragging rights and the WBO interim crown will ride on a blockbuster summer collision after trainer Tunde Ajayi revealed the deal for Callum “Mundo” Smith vs. Anthony Yarde was “sealed in February” and pencilled for August in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ajayi insisted the bout became inevitable once Yarde stopped Lyndon Arthur last month: “No more ducking… it’s the only fight that makes sense.”
The all‑English clash is expected to feature on the next Matchroom vs. Queensberry “5 v 5” bill under Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season banner, continuing Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push to dominate elite boxing’s calendar. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren - long‑time rivals now occasional partners - have yet to announce the full card, but both camps confirmed they are working to finalise broadcast and site‑fee details in the coming weeks.
Smith, roared back into title contention by out‑slugging Joshua Buatsi in February to capture the vacant WBO interim belt in an instant classic that drew a standing ovation from ringside star Anthony Joshua. Liverpool’s rangy former super‑middle champ now finds himself one win away from a third world‑title tilt - either a direct elevation or a crack at the undisputed champion later this year.
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Yarde, has rebuilt momentum since his valiant 2023 defeat to Artur Beterbiev, stringing together 4 wins culminating in April’s emphatic finish of Arthur to climb the WBO and WBA rankings. Ajayi believes his charge’s blend of speed will expose Smith’s “portrait‑ready” body: “These are the last two names in Britain’s 175‑pound conversation. Let’s see who the real number one is.”
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