The all-British light-heavyweight showdown between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi has been years in the making but they finally clash in Riyadh on Saturday night. Ahead of the encounter, we have a look at their three best wins, in no particular order, scored by Joshua Buatsi.
WILLY HUTCHINSON, 21.9.24, Wembley Stadium – SD12
When it mattered most, on the undercard of Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, Buatsi did the business against the awkward Willy Hutchinson. The 31-year-old dropped his opponent in the sixth and the ninth while Hutchinson was also deducted a point for excessive use of the head in the seventh. But, even so, this one went down as a split decision as judge Grzegorz Molenda somehow saw it 113-112 in Hutchinson’s favour. Howard Foster (115-110) and Salvador Salva (117-108), however, ensured Buatsi did not suffer a robbery.
DAN AZEEZ, 3.2.24, Wembley Arena – UD12
After a big build-up for this London derby against his friend Dan Azeez, where the British and Commonwealth titles were on the line, Buatsi barely put a foot wrong through 12 rounds and was a clear winner on all three cards. He looked like he was about to force a stoppage in the 11th too, when Azeez went down twice in quick succession, but he had to make do with a unanimous decision. Foster and Michael Alexander both had it 117-109 while Marcus McDonnell had it 116-110.
CRAIG RICHARDS, 21.5.22, o2 Arena – UD12
These were 12 hard-fought rounds in another crucial domestic clash, which edged Buatsi ever closer towards the world title picture. But this win was notable for the eighth round, when Buatsi was hurt badly for the first time in his professional career as a result of a big uppercut.
But Buatsi proved he has the stomach to handle a crisis, stayed on his feet and recovered in time to secure victory on all three cards. But it was a close one, with Gustavo Padillo scoring it 115-113 while Jan Christensen saw it 116-112.
