Joshua Buatsi set for all-British clash against fellow Londoner Craig Richards
- Joe Hewlett
- 21 March 2022
The winner of the all-British clash will see the winner challenging for world honours later this year.
Croydon's Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) scored his 10th knockout in a row when he stopped Latvia's Ricards Bolotniks in the eleventh round of their WBA light heavyweight world title eliminator on the third and final week of Matchroom Fight 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 at the AO Arena in Manchester in December before suffering a hand injury.
Crystal Palace's former British light heavyweight champion Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs) put in a spirited display as he pushed WBA light heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol all the way in his first world title attempt in May 2021.
'Spider' returned to winning ways at London's O2 last October on the Cameron vs McGee undercard, impressively stopping Poland's Marek Matyja in six rounds to earn the vacant WBA International light heavyweight title."
Two London boys coming together, it's going to be a huge night," said Buatsi. "The light heavyweight scene in this country is thriving and I'm glad that we are able to get one of the biggest fights made.
"The crowd are going to be in for a treat. I am coming to win and nothing else, I am sure Richards is doing the same. He had a close fight with Bivol so will want to make things straight, but I have other plans. Win well and then push onto the World Title by any means necessary."
"We're two top tier fighters from the UK," said Richards. "This is one of the biggest London domestic clashes for a long time. This is a very exciting fight for us both, but also one the fans will enjoy.
🗣 @craiglrichards 💥@DAZNBoxing #BuatsiRichards pic.twitter.com/jCUfHGUUT9
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) March 21, 2022
"Buatsi has got his plans and I'm sure he be well prepared, but nobody is going to stop me from fulfilling my destiny of becoming a world champion! He is a solid competitor and will be coming to win, but I am confident and believe I have the tools to get the job done. I proved myself at world level and I'm eager to prove that's where I belong."
"A big well done and thank you to Joshua and Craig for taking this fight, it's exactly the kind of fight boxing should be making," said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman.
"Two domestic light heavyweights on the verge of a world title shot decide to put it on the line rather than wait in a queue, giving us a fantastic battle of London that can only be a thriller."
