Yeah, I can't understand how a boxer doesn't use sparring as a training tool. It's bad enough that Yarde's previous tomato can opponents didn't prepare him much for a rise in class.
Kovalez was rattled enough at the end of the 8th to have trainer Mcgirt threaten to stop the fight if he didn't see more from Krusher but Yarde didn't look very dangerous after that. Still he showed a lot of heart and his chin seems fine.