---
title: "Joshua Buatsi Is ‘Open And Available’ To Face British Rival Next"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/buatsi-says-he-is-ready-to-face-brit-next/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tom Eaton"
section: "News"
published: "2024-02-08T08:57:32Z"
modified: "2024-02-08T08:57:32Z"
---

# Joshua Buatsi Is ‘Open And Available’ To Face British Rival Next

Joshua Buatsi secured a unanimous-decision win over fellow Londoner Dan Azeez at the weekend, and has revealed that he is prepared to take on another domestic rival in the light-heavyweight division.

Olympic bronze-medallist Buatsi extended his unbeaten record to 18-0 on Saturday night, with one of his strongest performances in the professional ring to date, silencing his doubters after a stagnant couple of years for the 30-year-old.

Ranked in the top three with each of the four sanctioning bodies, ‘JB’ is well poised for a shot at the winner of the [upcoming undisputed light-heavyweight title showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/beterbiev-on-bivol-saying-fight-is-signed/)

However, in an [interview with Boxing King Media,](https://youtu.be/rx-qTl0Uh7c?si=EiW42_BwDUCwD_Ob) Buatsi stated that he does not want to put his career on hold for a shot at the undisputed crown, instead outlining Anthony Yarde as his next target.

> “That felt like a big fight \[against Azeez\], it was nice to be in that. I want another one and I feel like you’re leaning towards the Anthony Yarde question, so I’ll get it out there.
>
> “If the unification for the undisputed belt is in June, of course I would like to be active, I am not going to sit down and wait.
>
> “They might even do a rematch to make it clear, so I am open and available to fight Yarde, it’s something that I said I want to happen this year so I am more than happy for that \[to happen\].”

Unlike Buatsi, Yarde has twice challenged for world honours, [losing by knockout to Beterbiev last year](https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12798074/artur-beterbiev-beats-anthony-yarde-in-bruising-eight-round-battle-to-defend-light-heavyweight-titles) and to Sergey Kovalev three-and-a-half years prior.

The traditional skill of Buatsi versus the knockout power of Yarde should make for an intriguing battle and has all the makings of a British barnstormer.