Matchroom Announced Joshua Buatsi-Craig Richards For May

On Monday, Matchroom Boxing confirmed that Joshua Buatsi will face former World Title challenger Craig Richards in an enormous all London Mild-Heavyweight conflict on Saturday Might 21, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

🗣 @boxingbuatsi 🔥@DAZNBoxing #BuatsiRichards pic.twitter.com/gqOV1i568D

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) March 21, 2022

The Brit Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) scored his tenth knockout in a row, when he stopped Latvia’s Ricards Bolotniks in the eleventh round of their WBA Mild-Heavyweight world title eliminator on the third and ultimate week of Matchroom’s “Battle 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 harm.

Crystal Palace’s former British Mild-Heavyweight Champion Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs) put in a spirited show as he pushed WBA Mild-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol all the best way in his first World Title try in Might 2021.

The ‘Spider’ returned to profitable methods on the O2 Area final October on the Cameron vs. McGee undercard, impressively stopping Poland’s Marek Matyja in six rounds to earn the vacant WBA Worldwide Mild-Heavyweight Title.

“Two London boys coming collectively, it’s going to be an enormous evening,” stated Buatsi stated within the Matchroom launch. “The Mild-Heavyweight scene on this nation is flourishing and I’m glad that we’re capable of get one of many greatest fights made.

“The group are going to be in for a deal with. I’m coming to win and nothing else, I’m certain Richards is doing the identical. He had an in depth struggle with Bivol so will need to make issues straight, however I’ve different plans. Win nicely after which push onto the World Title by any means essential.”

“We’re two high tier fighters from the UK,” added Richards. “This is without doubt one of the greatest London home clashes for a very long time. It is a very thrilling struggle for us each, but additionally one the followers will get pleasure from. Buatsi has bought his plans and I’m certain he be nicely ready, however no one goes to cease me from fulfilling my future of turning into a World Champion!

“He’s a strong competitor and shall be coming to win, however I’m assured and consider I’ve the instruments to get the job completed. I proved myself at world stage and I’m desperate to show that’s the place I belong.”

“An enormous nicely completed and thanks to Joshua and Craig for taking this struggle, it’s precisely the sort of struggle boxing must be making,” stated Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman.

“Two home Mild-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 unbelievable battle of London that may solely be a thriller.”

Matchroom will give full undercard particulars quickly for the present on Might twenty first.