Yarde began boxing competitively at a relatively late age and only had twelve amateur fights prior to turning professional.

[3] After compiling a record of 10–0 (9 KOs) he captured the Southern Area light-heavyweight title, dropping reigning champion Chris Hobbs to the canvas six times[4] en route to a fourth-round technical knockout (TKO) victory on 20 May 2017 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

[5] Two months later he defeated Richard Baranyi via first-round TKO on 8 July at the Copper Box Arena, capturing the WBO European light-heavyweight title.

[6] He was scheduled to face Canadian boxer Ryan Ford, a former mixed martial artist, on 16 September 2017 for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title.

Yarde followed up with an accurate salvo of power punches but was unable to capitalise, allowing the visibly hurt Kovalev to stay on his feet for the remainder of the round.

Yarde looked a little rusty, but still managed to outperform his opponent, knocking him out in the sixth round of the contest, setting himself up for a shot at the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.

[17] On 28 January 2023, Yarde challenged WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev at Wembley Arena in London, England.