Anthony Yarde has confirmed he rejected a ‘life-changing’ offer from Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in order to pursue his world title dream.

The ‘Beast from the East’ is heading to Russia on August 24 to fight WBO Light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in his home town.

Getty Images - Getty 3 Anthony Yarde was offered his entire fight fee by Canelo to not fight Kovalev

Few expected Yarde to take such a drastic step so early in his career, given he has had just 12 amateur fights and 18 as a professional.

Regardless, the 27-year-old is going to Chelyabinsk to take on arguably the best fighter in the world at 175 pounds with the aim of shocking the world.

But it transpires the fight almost did not go ahead.

Yarde, who earned his WBO mandatory shot back in March, has told the Daily Mail he was offered his entire fight fee to step aside and allow Canelo to take his place.

Getty Images - Getty 3 The Mexican stepped up to the 168lbs division in December and annihilated Rocky Fielding

After the initial date of June 29 was postponed, the Mexican maestro attempted to muscle in on Yarde’s fight to add to the titles he already has at Middleweight and Super-middleweight.

But the Brit stood firm and is adamant he will leave Russia as the new champion.

“I got offered step aside money. First of all, it was under what I’m getting to fight Kovalev and I laughed at it. Then they offered me the same amount that I’m getting for the fight and I laughed it again,” he told Sportsmail.

“I said to them, you better be doubling or tripling it to get me to step aside because this is a world title fight.

Getty Images - Getty 3 At 36, many feel Sergey Kovalev is slowing down a touch perhaps

“Yes, it’s to do with money but I wanted to be a world champion. I feel like they were just gobsmacked I’m actually up for going to Russia, a lot of people are.

“I would rather get paid the same money and fight for a world title. They offered me life-changing money to step aside and let him fight Canelo but again I just said, ‘You’ve got to double or triple it to get me to walk away from a world title shot.’

“Either they couldn’t afford it or it didn’t make sense to them, I don’t know the reasons behind it but they didn’t up their offer.’

The undefeated 27-year-old added: “Nobody has really gone out to Russia to fight somebody like Kovalev. A lot of people are paying attention to it and can’t believe what I’m doing.

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“Some people think I’m going to pull out. I’ve seen comments saying ‘Oh this is a good publicity stunt’ and I was just laughing. They don’t understand.

“They really don’t understand I have been offered a lot of money to not fight this guy. 90 per cent of people would have snapped their hands off. They would have got on their knees and thanked them. I see it as this is my career, this is my world title and I want it now.”