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Fight Camp: Joshua Buatsi backed to deliver a stunning knockout in Essex

Joshua Buatsi headlines the finale of Fight Camp 2.0 and victory can help him get closer to world contention.

The third and final weekend of Fight Camp is almost upon us following another exciting weekend of boxing at Matchroom HQ in Essex this past Saturday.
Headlining the second weekend of this three-week event, Sheffield's favourite Kid Galahad became a world champion at the second time of asking as he claimed the vacant IBF world featherweight title with a convincing 11th round stoppage of Jazza Dickens.

Now in our final weekend of three, another potentially exciting headline attraction is expected as Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi defends his WBA International light heavyweight title against MTK Global Golden Contract winner Ricard Bolotniks.
In what looks to be a decent card from Eddie Hearn´s lovely patch of grass, undefeated US featherweight Raymond Ford (8-0-1) takes on Reece Bellotti (14-4) while Portsmouth's Michael McKinson (20-0, 2) is up against Poland's PrzemysÅ'aw Runowski (19-1) as he defends his WBO Global welterweight title.

Also on the bill, the exciting and skilled Scottish prospect Kash Farooq makes the first defence of his WBC International Silver title at bantamweight against twice beaten Mexican Luis Gerardo Castillo.

Joshua Buatsi vs Ricards Bolotniks - WBA International light heavyweight title

Best bets:

Buatsi to win by KO/TKO/DQ/Technical Decision 7/20

Buatsi to win in round four 9/1

Our headline attraction from Essex sees exciting light heavyweight prospect Joshua Buatsi (14-0) return to the ring against WBO European light heavyweight titlist Richard Bolotniks (18-5-1).
Boasting an unblemished fighting resume, the skilled and heavy-handed Buatsi, 28, earned a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and is expected to go far in the 175lb weight class in the coming years.

Under the management of Anthony Joshua, Buatsi comes into this bout having earned a savage fourth-round KO of Daniel Dos Santos last time out.

However, the Londoner is expected to face a sterner test here in the shape of Latvian Bolotniks, who secured a two-year, five-fight contract with MTK Global, having claimed a 10th round stoppage of German Serge Michel at the back end of 2020.
While Bolotniks offers significantly more experience than Buatsi's most recent opponents, another big stoppage win looks likely for the Ghanian-born Brit, who should offer too much speed, skill, and punching power for his opponent.

Indeed, with ten stoppages inside the first six rounds, we're backing the powerful Buatsi to get the job done in the opening half of the fight at decent 17/2 odds.

Kash Farooq vs Luis Gerardo Castillo WBC International bantamweight title

Glaswegian slickster Kash Farooq (15-1) is back in action this weekend as he defends his WBC International bantamweight title against the little-known Mexican Luis Gerardo Castillo (28-2).
Known as "untouchable", the likeable Pakistani-born Scot is expected to make quick work of his unheralded Mexican opponent, fighting outside of his own country for the first time in his six-year pro career.

Entering the contest as a massive 1/14 odds-on favourite with Planet Sport Bet, Farooq offers dazzling speed of hand and superb technical skills and, at the age of 25, is expected to have a big future in the bantamweight division.

Castillo does come to the ring with plenty of fights in the bag, even if they might not have been at the highest standard, and with only two losses on his record, should be expected to give Farooq a decent night's work in Essex on Saturday.
With Farooq winning only 40% of his bouts by KO, we suspect this one could go the distance, with the Glaswegian earning a comfortable and lop-sided points decision against a typically durable Mexican opponent.

Raymond Ford vs Reece Bellotti - WBA Continental featherweight title

Another potentially intriguing clash sees unbeaten New Jersey prospect Raymond "Savage" Ford battle the UK's Reece "Bomber" Bellotti for the WBA Continental featherweight title.

Certainly the tightest match-up according to Planet Sport Bet, Ford (8-0,1), enters the contest as a 2/11 odds on favourite with Bellotti available at 9/2.

A 2018 winner of the US National Golden Gloves Championships, the 22-year-old southpaw Ford is undoubtedly an exciting prospect in the featherweight division.
However, a disappointing draw with Aaron Perez back in March has perhaps stalled the New Jersey prospects' road towards future titles.
In his second appearance at Fight Camp, Watford´s Bellotti has been out of action for over a year since a majority decision loss to Jordan Gill last summer, and having now lost four of his previous six bouts, Ford looks well placed to get his career back in the right direction with a decisive victory.

Also on the card...

Following a fine win over Chris Kongo in Gibraltar earlier this year, Michael Mckinson takes on Przemyslaw Runowski for the WBO Global welterweight title.
Unbeaten lightweight prospect Joe Cordina is also in action as he faces Joshuah Hernandez over ten rounds, while Hopey Price takes on Claudio Grande in a super bantamweight contest scheduled for six rounds.

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