Joshua Buatsi Confirmed To Face Craig Richards Next

Consensus Top 10 Light Heavyweight and IBF #2, WBA #3, WBC #4 Britain\’s Joshua \’ Buatsi (15-0, 13KO) will take the toughest test of his career possibly towards the end of May at The O2 Arena in London Live on DAZN when he faces the former world title challenger and British Champion WBA #7 Craig \’Spider\’ Richards (17-2-1) in a WBA Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator (the second for Buatsi).

Buatsi, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, has moved at a slower pace than he would have liked to due to injuries, the pandemic and trainer change. However, that all changed at Fight Camp 2021 when he took on Golden Contract winner and top 15 Light Heavyweight Ricard Bolotniks where he showed his true class.

From there Buatsi was meant to face Maxim Vlasov, who was coming off a controversial points decision loss to Joe Smith Jr for the WBO Light Heavyweight Title in April, but another injury postponed that December clash and now instead he goes into a much bigger fight.

Craig Richards is no stranger to being in the away corner and has done so numerous times before including stepping in at late notice to take on Frank Buglioni, dethroning British champion Shakan Pitters on away show as an underdog and most recently when he challenged WBA Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol last May.

Richards was 1 point off on one card and 2 points off on another meaning he was a couple of rounds away from becoming world champion and landing the Canelo fight on May 7. He now goes into this fight with Buatsi with the intention to prove he is truly world level and deserves another crack at the world title.