A cracking clash tops a Matchroom promoted bill at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday night, as Joshua Buatsi takes on former world title challenger, Craig Richards in a South London derby over a scheduled twelve rounds at light heavyweight.
Buatsi vs Richards will be televised live on DAZN.
2016 Olympic Bronze Medallist, Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) has made serene progress since turning professional in July 2017, and is seemingly on the fast track to a world title shot, with assured performances aplenty so far.
The 29-year-old has captured the British title, winning the vacant strap in March 2019 with a third round stoppage of Liam Conroy, and made six defences of the WBA International bauble, his last a fourth round stoppage of Daniel Blenda Dos Santos in May last year.
Buatsi was last in action in the Matchroom back garden three months later, and it was another impressive display as he broke down and stopped Ricards Bolotniks in eleven rounds.
He now gets a solid test in Crystal Palace-based Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs), a man whose most recent defeat has only enhanced his credentials over time.
After drawing over eight rounds with Chad Sugden in December 2019, it looked as though the 32-year-old’s career was at a crossroads, but he rebounded to rip the British belt from Shakan Pitters in a ninth round stoppage a year later.
That win led to a dream world title shot against Dimitry Bivol, and ‘Spider’ gave the Russian a good argument before going down on the cards. That defeat has looked better since Bivol’s stunning win over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez earlier this month.
Richards won the WBA International trinket left behind by Buatsi in his last fight, a sixth round stoppage of Marek Matyja last October.
Prediction: This is a great match-up, and I predict that it should be a good one where both styles will gel. Richards is underrated, and Buatsi will need to be sharp and come through some examinations during the contest. I think he will, and should take a points win to move closer to world honours.
Cameron defends world title
There’s world title action on the undercard, as Chantelle Cameron (15-0, 8 KOs) defends her WBC and IBF super lightweight titles against the experienced Argentine, Victoria Noelia Bustos (23-6).
Cameron added the IBF belt to her WBC one in October last year, as she routed Mary McGee on the scorecards, while Bustos is a two-time IBF champion at lightweight.
Since a loss to undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus in November 2019, she has resurfaced with four low-key wins in her homeland.
Prediction: The 33-year-old Argentine has never been stopped, so I expect Cameron to retain on points.
Babic makes bridgerweight bow
Alen Babic (10-0, 10 KOs) haș never been past six rounds as a professional, and is in a scheduled twelve rounder here, but should come out on top against Poland’s Adam Balski in his first fight at bridgerweight, after previously competing at heavyweight.
Balski (16-1, 9 KOs) lost for the first time last year, over ten to Mateusz Masternak, but he has won over eight since.
Prediction: Babic’s crude style can lead him to another early win.
Davies Jr meets Molina
Robbie Davies Jr impressed in knocking Henry ‘Hank’ Lundy out in two in his last fight in December 2021, and he defends the WBA Continental super lightweight title he won that night here against Javier Molina.
Molina (22-4, 9 KOs) has lost two in a row, but in good company, and hasn’t been stopped.
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Prediction: Davies (22-3, 15 KOs) will likely need all ten rounds to get his hand raised.
Scotney faces Roman
Ellie Scotney (4-0) was given a stern test in winning the WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight title in her last fight against Jorgelina Guanini, and she should come out on top in her latest assignment against Maria Cecilia Roman (16-6-1), an Argentine who is a former IBF champion at bantamweight, losing her belt against Ebanie Bridges in March.
Remaining Undercard
At cruiserweight, Cheavon Clarke (1-0, 1 KO) should halt Pawel Martyniuk (4-8, 4 KOs) before the end of their six rounder, and Cyrus Pattinson (3-0, 1 KO) can do the same against Dimitri Trenel (8-0, 4 KOs).
Opening this afternoon’s media workout in London, The Gentleman @johnhedges_ 🎩#HedgesBaltaru #BuatsiRichards
Watch: https://t.co/VAVjrPOf9M pic.twitter.com/hmD0GE8bGu
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) May 18, 2022
Light heavyweight, John Hedges (5-0, 1 KO) can take care of Robert Baltaru (2-0-1) over the six round distance, and Shiloh Defreitas (3-0, 2 KOs) can stop Iliyan Markov (6-19-2, 3 KOs) at welterweight.
