OPENING this Saturday’s card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is an intriguing domestic dustup between light-heavyweight contenders Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith.
The pair will lock horns for the WBO interim title, with the winner positioning himself one step closer towards a shot at world honours.
Here, Boxing News takes a look at how the fight could be won and lost from the perspective of both corners.
JOSHUA BUATSI – KEYS TO VICTORY
Aggression
Since linking up with Virgil Hunter, a trainer known for his meticulous planning and astute eye for strategy, Buatsi has become a more well-rounded operator, no longer relying on his destructive power.
But while the technical side of his style has come on leaps and bounds, there is a sense that, in this particular matchup, he must establish himself as the aggressor.
By doing so, Smith will be afforded less time and space to set up his deadly counters, presenting Buatsi with an opportunity to initiate the exchanges and control the pace.
Sustained attacks
In his last two outings against Willy Hutchinson and Dan Azeez, Buatsi had his opponents hurt multiple times but ultimately failed to keep his foot on the gas.
For this fight, though, it is crucial for the 31-year-old to not only assert his power but follow each shot up with two, three or, better yet, four-punch combinations.
While Smith has proven to be a spiteful puncher, one would suspect that, at this stage in their careers, the power is firmly in Buatsi’s favour.
And so, the importance for Smith to feel the full wrath of his ferocious onslaughts early doors should not be underestimated.
Mid to long-range exchanges
While Smith boasts a longer reach, he is equally as comfortable boxing on the inside as he is on the outside, often finding openings to land his short counters in the pocket.
Buatsi, on the other hand, looks his most fluid and relaxed when keeping his opponent at arm’s length, generating more leverage to detonate his bombs.
In that sense, it could be beneficial for the Olympic bronze medallist to avoid any exchanges at close quarters, preventing Smith from landing one of his signature counter left hooks.
CALLUM SMITH – KEYS TO VICTORY
Economical output
Despite returning with a five-round blowout in November, Smith’s last meaningful fight, against Artur Beterbiev, took place over a year ago.
Worse still, the 34-year-old has seemingly formed a habit of fighting just once a year, and even trudged through the whole of 2023 without entering the ring.
His lack of activity, of course, can be explained by several injuries, making it all the more important for him to adopt a measured approach to his next outing.
With that in mind, conserving his energy should be a top priority, and even if that means patiently waiting for his opportunities, Smith cannot afford to empty his tank.
Counter left hook
It is no secret that one of the most potent weapons in Smith’s locker is his counter left hook.
The shot has produced several highlight reel stoppages at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, often requiring very little distance to deliver an almighty impact.
Buatsi, however, will be well aware of this, meaning that Smith must be particularly thoughtful when setting his traps.
Without telegraphing the punch, his best opportunity to land it could be just as his opponent starts marching into range, with it possibly even being disguised behind a body shot designed to lower Buatsi’s tight guard.
Versatility
Throughout his career, Smith has come up against a plethora of styles in the ring, more often than not finding a way to emerge victorious.
This level of experience – knowing when to up the intensity while also making adjustments on the fly – should therefore play into his hands.
So when Buatsi marches forward, for instance, Smith may look to weather the storm before responding with an attack of his own, picking and choosing the right moments.
All the while, his offensive efforts must follow a sequence of sharp defensive manoeuvres, with ‘Mundo’ spinning off at angles to create openings for his counters.
