Anthony Yarde loses second family member to COVID-19

These have been trying times for all of us, no doubt, but it’s been a particularly bad week for former light heavyweight title contender Anthony Yarde, who has just lost his second close family member to the spreading coronavirus. Earlier this week it was reported that Yarde’s father had succumb to virus, and just days later it’s now his grandmother.

“We have now lost my nana to this virus,” Yarde wrote. “My dad and his mother have passed days apart. It’s serious! People are still going out when they don’t need to. I know there’s a lot of opinions about covid19 and I have mine but I just know opinions ain’t worth risking your life and others. Just stay home. RIP Dad 27-3-20. RIP Nana 4-2-20. My heart really goes out to all the people suffering in different ways.”

Yarde, 28, got his first real break on the world level when he challenged Sergey Kovalev for WBO world title last summer. Yarde would put up a stiffer than expected challenge against Kovalev at the time, but would ultimately get stopped in the 11th round. Yarde has since taken a tune-up fight this past February that he won handily.

We at BLH send our condolences to Yarde and his family and urge everyone to take heed to his warnings about staying safe during this time.