IN recent years the British light-heavyweight division has proved to be one of the most frustrating in boxing.
The biggest letdown so far has been the failure of a fight between Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yarde materialising. Its sell-by-date still has some time left, but most fight fans will tell you they have become bored and immune from any speculation linking the two back together.
The introduction of Turki Alalshikh to boxing, however, has given life to Buatsi-Yarde and many other possible fights which have been consigned to a darkened back room where it may still see the light of day.
While Buatsi and Yarde remain the top two, there have been some worthwhile fights for us all to get our teeth into. Buatsi v Dan Azeez, Craig Richards v Willy Hutchinson, Buatsi v Hutchinson, Azeez v Lewis Edmondson, Lyndon Arthur v Liam Cameron and Ben Whittaker v Cameron. Still to come, we have Richards v Padraig McCrory and the Whittaker v Cameron rematch, but still no Buatsi v Yarde.
A worthy consolation is Buatsi v Callum Smith, which takes place on a terrific six-fight card in Riyadh this Saturday night. Smith’s return to boxing had been in doubt after his one-sided loss 13 months ago to light heavyweight boss Artur Beterbievm who tops Saturday’s bill with rival Dmitry Bivol in their undisputed title rematch.
Smith’s second career defeat, the first coming at super middleweight against Canelo Alvarez, came a few months before the Scouser became a married man. Real-life looked like a far more attractive proposal than boxing life.
And in interviews prior to this fight being announced Smith, who rarely gives much away, never convinced viewers on whether he would fight again or retire from a career which earned some big paydays, the WBA super middleweight world title and The Muhammad Ali Trophy after beating George Groves in their World Boxing Super Series final in Jeddah seven years ago.
It is right then that we query why Smith is coming back at this stage of his life and career. Before the loss to Beterbiev inactivity had been his toughest opponent. One fight in 2024, none in 2023, one in 2022, one in 2021 (his 175lb debut) and one in 2020. Covid, of course, hindered many careers, but even four years earlier, in 2017, Smith only fought once as well.
If inactivity kills careers, then Smith’s should be on life support.
Buatsi, too, has had to battle through absences in a career that is approaching eight years old and without a world title fight. The all-business 31-year-old has picked up some momentum, however, since a below par performance against Pawel Stepien in May 2023. Decision wins against permanent friend turned short-term rival Dan Azeez and then Willy Hutchinson showed a Buatsi, 19-0 (13 KOs), still operating at the top but yet to show his full potential.
The Londoner’s performance against Hutchinson, who, regardless of what Buatsi said, did get under his skin in the build-up was spiteful, hurtful and once again demonstrated that he (or Yarde) is the top dog in the British light heavyweight division.
Like the five others, Saturday’s matchup is a main event in its own right, and it’s disappointing not to see a big domestic fight such as Buatsi-Smith headline a Saturday night card in the UK. However, how much money has it taken to get these two in the ring and was it more than their promoters – Ben Shalom and Eddie Hearn – were willing to pay?
Questions like this appear to matter little nowadays. So long as the fights are getting made, eh?
Buatsi is the man in the form out of the two and rightly starts the favourite. Smith has had four fights at light heavyweight and two of them (who were overmatched) might have considered their life choices after what ‘Mundo’ did to them. And then, when the time came to step up against the best – Artur Beterbiev – he was found wanting after the Canadian-based Russian came out of the traps fast and destructive.
Smith, 30-2 (22 KOs), stands only an inch taller than Buatsi but holds a three-and-a-half-inch advantage over his unbeaten opponent. This immediately brings the Smith jab into play, which could be crucial to the Liverpudlian’s chances.
If this fight had taken place in 2023 or at least before Smith’s journey to Canada to face Beterbiev then it could be considered a coin flip. But Smith’s time away, Buatsi’s momentum and the likelihood he will do more to win rounds tips the balance in his favour. This promises 12 rounds of competitive action which will see Buatsi with his arm raised at the end before taking in that night’s main event with one eye on the winner.
Full Card Previews Below
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2
12 x 3 minute rounds – IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC World Light Heavyweight Titles
Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole
12 x 3 minute rounds – IBF World Heavyweight Title
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov
12 x 3 minute rounds – WBC Interim Super Welterweight Title
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel
12 x 3 minute rounds – WBC Interim Heavyweight Title
