Matchroom Boxing Press Launch
South London rivals meet on Could 21
Joshua Buatsi will face former World Title challenger Craig Richards in an enormous all London Gentle-Heavyweight conflict on Saturday Could 21, dwell worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).
Croydon’s Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) scored his tenth knockout in a row when he stopped Latvia’s Ricards Bolotniks within the eleventh spherical of their WBA Gentle-Heavyweight World Title Eliminator on the third and closing week of Matchroom Struggle Camp in August.
The 29-year-old was set to face Russia’s former World Title challenger Maxim Vlasov on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s rematch with Derek Chisora on the AO Area in Manchester in December earlier than struggling a hand damage.
Crystal Palace’s former British Gentle-Heavyweight Champion Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs) put in a spirited show as he pushed WBA Gentle-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol all the best way in his first World Title try in Could 2021.
‘Spider’ returned to successful methods at The O2 final October on the Cameron vs. McGee undercard, impressively stopping Poland’s Marek Matyja in six rounds to earn the vacant WBA Worldwide Gentle-Heavyweight Title.
“Two London boys coming collectively, it’s going to be an enormous evening,” mentioned Buatsi. “The Gentle-Heavyweight scene on this nation is prospering and I’m glad that we’re capable of get one of many largest fights made. The group are going to be in for a deal with. I’m coming to win and nothing else, I’m positive Richards is doing the identical. He had a detailed combat with Bivol so will wish to make issues straight, however I’ve different plans. Win effectively after which push onto the World Title by any means crucial.”
“We’re two prime tier fighters from the UK,” mentioned Richards. “This is likely one of the largest London home clashes for a very long time. This can be a very thrilling combat for us each, but additionally one the followers will get pleasure from. Buatsi has obtained his plans and I’m positive he be effectively ready, however no one goes to cease me from fulfilling my future of turning into a World Champion! He’s a stable competitor and will likely be coming to win, however I’m assured and imagine I’ve the instruments to get the job finished. I proved myself at world degree and I’m wanting to show that’s the place I belong.”
“An enormous effectively finished and thanks to Joshua and Craig for taking this combat, it’s precisely the type of combat boxing needs to be making,” mentioned Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman. “Two home Gentle-Heavyweights on the verge of a World Title shot resolve to place it on the road reasonably than wait in a queue, giving us a improbable battle of London that may solely be a thriller.”
“Who doesn’t love a giant home mud up? And this definitely suits that description, what a improbable combat that is set to be,” mentioned Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. “With an electrical Gentle-Heavyweight scene within the UK, Joshua Buatsi will face a giant check on Could 21 towards former World Title challenger Craig Richards. This will likely be all out motion from begin to end, all dwell and solely on DAZN.”
