Joshua Buatsi will face former world title challenger Craig Richards in a big London Light-Heavyweight Clash on Saturday, May 21, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).
Croydon’s Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) scored his tenth knockout in a row as he defeated the Ricards Bolotniks of Latvia in the eleventh round of their WBA Light-Heavyweight World Championship eliminator on the third and final week of Matchroom Fight Camp stopped in August.
The 29-year-old was set to face Russian former world title challenger Maxim Vlasov on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s rematch with Derek Chisora at the AO Arena in Manchester in December before suffering a hand injury.
Crystal Palace’s former British lightweight champion Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs) put up a spiritual display as he pushed WBA Lightweight heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol all the way in his first world title attempt in May 2021.
‘Spider’ is back on the winning path at the O2 last October on the Cameron vs McGee Undercard, impressively stopping Polish Marek Matyja in six rounds to earn the free WBA International Light-Heavyweight title.
“Two London boys coming together, it’s going to be a huge night,” Buatsi said. “The light-heavyweight scene in this country is booming and I’m glad we’re able to get one of the biggest fights done.
The public will enjoy it. I come to win and nothing else, I’m sure Richards does the same. He had a close fight with Bivol so wants to get things right, but I have other plans. Win well and then push for the world title by all necessary means.
“We are two top-tier fighters from the UK,” Richards said. “This is one of the biggest London home conflicts for a long time. This is a very exciting fight for both of us but also one that fans will enjoy. Buatsi has his plans and I’m sure he’s well prepared but no will prevent me from becoming my world champion! He’s a solid competitor and will come to win, but I’m confident and believe I have the tools to get the job done. I’m looking forward to proving that to where I belong.
“A big well done and thanks to Joshua and Craig for taking this fight, it’s exactly the kind of fight boxes should do,” said Eddie Hearn, matchroom sports president. “Two secret light-heavyweights on the edge of a world title shot decide to put it on the line instead of waiting in line, giving us a fantastic battle of London that can only be a thriller.”
“Who does not like a cloud of large house dust? And this certainly fits this description, what a fantastic fight this should be,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. “With an electric light-heavyweight scene in the UK, Joshua Buatsi will put a big test against former world title challenger Craig Richards on May 21. This will be all-out action from start to finish, all live and exclusive on DAZN.
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport President:
“Welcome to London, a huge press conference for a fantastic fight. I say domestic fight, but also a fight that has such a huge impact on the world 175lbs scene.
“Joshua Buatsi, Olympic bronze medalist against Craig Richards, a man who won British titles, also challenged for the world title. This is a kind of fight that excites me, this is the kind of fight that seems so obvious. Two brilliant Domestic fighters but also two world class fighters as well.
“A world title challenger in Craig Richards and a man who many believe is destined for greatness with 175lbs. I want to thank teams of both fighters; you have to understand that these guys know each other. One from Croydon and one from Crystal Palace, one Stone away from each other and they have known each other for years.
“Sometimes in boxing they do not want to do these fights, coaches, managers, advisors, fighters – ‘we are waiting for our world title shot’. Career not if you’re involved in ingenious fights, fights that take your career to another level, that’s what we’re up to on 21st May in London.
Joshua Buatsi:
“A few months ago, I was sitting in yours [Eddie’s] Office and said get me these fights, it’s good light heavyweights in the country, that it’s good to mix it with one of them. As a fighter, you go to the shows and see if it’s a major event with a buzz, you think I wish I was in there. I have mine now, for me it’s now just preparing for May 21st, Spider brings his A game but I’m ready.
“I would not call it the hardest test, for me it is just the most important fight in my career right now. It is the next fight, the fight I have to win, last time with Bolotniks but this time it is Spider. I prepare as diligently as I can, come May 21st I will be ready.
“I have to thank the matchroom and Spider’s team, including my team, for making this fight. Fighters can rather wait for the opportunity, for me it looks a bit complicated at the moment, but I have a good fight and that’s what I’m concentrating on.
“I think so [Canelo] makes this a big fight for me, makes it even more important. I know what’s at stake, what the rewards are and that’s what I said when I was in Arizona. I’ll be fighting these guys as long as I know what’s next. This could lead to a world title fight next so for me, I’m easy, no matter who it is, I’m ready.
“I’m at the point where I want to fight these guys, I want to get into these big fights. May 21st is the first stop and if we deal with that, we’ll take care of who’s next.
“This is nothing new, outside I’m cool and quiet, probably like a lot of boxers, but when I’m in that ring, I know what time it is. I know what I have to do, and the situation is, nice guys come last and that’s what it’s in the ring. Outside the ring be whatever you want, but in that ring I know what I have to do. In May I will be ready. “
Craig Richards:
“I think that was a fight that will always be in the pipeline, I believed I was coming to world level, I believed that he [Buatsi] was of course also destined for world level so we knew our paths would cross at some point. It’s a good clash.
“For myself, I want to get back into the mix, challenge and win a world title. I think that’s the bridge to cross to do that today.
“Of course I was thrown into the deep a few times and I just swam and swam. I have no regrets because that’s what put me in this position today, I’ve had a lot of homemade fights, grudge matches and cross country fights. That all built my experience and ability to be confident enough to go in for the 21st of May to win and win.
“I believe if I did not have these struggles, it would be a harder struggle if this struggle were planned without experience. I am ready to go, that is what made me confident, I see the growth in myself every fight and every week, every day in the gym.I’m just looking forward to going out and performing to show the experience of the hard way.
“If you look at the titles I won in Light Heavyweight, I think three of the fights I was the underdog in were. When I hit the Jake Ball, I was a massive underdog, they wrote me off. and I went out there, delivered and got the knockout. My last title fight I was the favorite, but it meant nothing else, I went out and delivered. If the bookies want to sleep on me, it’s up to them. The same person is in front of me, I’m not interested in bookies or what people say, I have a job to do, and I deliver.
“Josh goes to the gym to stretch all his flaws fight for fight, what I saw is that he showed heart and strength. I know he has the will to win, and he will come to win. Like that other undefeated fighters I have faced, more importantly, they have more will to win.I know he will not come out and lie down, that is for me to go and prepare to make sure I get the job done.
“He’s not a stupid guy, he’s very intelligent, he’s not stupid enough to just refuel and says yes, I’ll go over to Richards. diligently prepare for me.
“I will not look after him and think this is a walk, I prepare just as hard if not harder for him. We both know we are in a tough fight May 21 and I do not sleep in each other. I believe we are both well prepared and releasing A Games on May 21st.
“I think I have the skills to win in some way, the most important thing is to prepare the whole board. I have to be prepared for everything, at this level you can not just say that I won it by a blow or close it. You have prepared for Plan A, B, C or D, you may need to be rough and ready or box and clever.It all depends on the night, you just need to make sure you are prepared, have all your game plans and fit , be ready and strong.In the night just make it happen, listen to your team most importantly and accomplish what you need to win the fight.
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