It was eight rounds of pure violence. Eight rounds that encompassed the idea of man versus man. Eight rounds that proved why boxing is the ultimate spectator sport. Eight rounds that will go down in the history books.

But ultimately, eight rounds that proved just that step too far for our man.

Which is no shame at all. Of course, sportsmen at the top of their game take no consolation in valiant defeat. Anthony Yarde would undoubtedly have wanted to spend his Sunday afternoon cuddling those three world titles.

However, it bodes well for the future of a fighter who has just stood up, and at times backed up, one of the game’s greats in Artur Beterbiev.

You see, boxing is both a simple and complex sport. On Saturday’s viewing, both men stood up and threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other in a frantically paced 24 minutes.

But look below the surface, and you have a fight that was so much more. A fight that posed questions of desire, resistance, power and balls - everything Beterbiev has in abundance.

And they were answers that the Russian required from minute one. A chaotic first round saw Beterbiev throw but miss with whistling right hands. If Yarde knew he had to be on alert, this clarified exactly that.

Yet as easy (or difficult) as it would have been to focus on Beterbiev’s barrage alone, Yarde got going himself and put together some neat work to stamp his authority on the fight.

It was Yarde’s house, and there was no way any man was going in there to take liberties. The defeat in Chelyabinsk four years ago may have been gutsy, but a single showing of intent could not overshadow what was a systematic beatdown.

Already, after just the opening sequence, Yarde was well in a world title fight.

The next two rounds showcased why Beterbiev has the reputation he does. Sure, he was being hit on the way in, but that did little to deter him from marching forward.

It was like an invasion of privacy. Every backwards step of Yarde’s was met by a forward one from Beterbiev. Not to mention the ramrod jab, the increase in tempo and air depleting hooks to the body.

Yet STILL Yarde was landing. Rounds four and five were utterly relentless. Wembley Arena was going wild with unwavering support for the Brit. Even sitting here now typing I can feel myself getting carried away just thinking about the electric atmosphere inside the venue.

The last 20 seconds of round five was the first time Yarde looked to be overly troubled. Yes, his face was marked, but both men had until now stood up to what the other had.

Round six was in some cases a breather, but that is only if your definition of a breather is to stand and trade in the pocket. The action did reduce slightly, but only because it physically had to.

The seventh was non-stop. Beterbiev, a notorious head-hunter, was now whipping shots in both upstairs and down. Yarde hit back with power shots of his own.

But a late onslaught looked to have taken the fight away from Yarde.

Round eight, it was all over.

As for Tunde Ajayi, and the decision to withdraw his man, I can have only admiration. He himself may have taken the verbal hits over the years, but everything has been for the best interests of Yarde.

As he stood on the edge of the canvas, I looked purposely at Tunde to see what reaction he would get from Anthony.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

That says enough to me.

For Beterbiev, an undisputed fight with Dmitry Bivol lurks around an exciting corner. Now 19 wins with 19 knockouts, and clearly immune to father-time, this may well go on to be a fighter who we remember alongside icons of the past.

Enjoy him while he's here!

Oscar Bevis 

Official reporter for iFL TV