British light heavyweight contender Anthony Yarde, whose father died on Sunday due to the coronavirus, has now also lost his grandmother to COVID-19.
Yarde said Friday on social media that his grandmother died on Thursday.
“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.”
Promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, which represents Yarde, issued a statement offering condolences.
“We are extremely sad to learn that Anthony Yarde has now lost his Nan to the coronavirus,” Warren said. “We can’t begin to imagine what Anthony and his family are going through and our sincere condolences go out to them. Please listen to his heartfelt personal plea, stay at home to save lives.”
Yarde (19-1, 18 KOs), 28, got a mandatory shot at then-light heavyweight world titlist Sergey Kovalev on Aug. 24 and traveled to Kovalev’s hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Yarde gave Kovalev a competitive and tough fight in what was eventually an 11th-round knockout loss.
Yarde returned for a low-level second-round knockout victory over Diego Jair Ramirez on Feb. 8 in Spain and was scheduled to fight countryman Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12 KOs) on April 11 on the undercard of the vacant European heavyweight title fight between Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois at the O2 Arena. However, that show was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and is tentatively rescheduled for July 11.