After his win against Craig ‘Spider’ Richards on Saturday night Joshua Buatsi is keen on having another all-British light heavyweight tussle.
The two men brought out the best in one another during an entertaining main event on Matchroom’s card at The O2 Arena. And the winner told Boxing Social’s Andi Purewal he hopes to face long-time rival Anthony Yarde at some point.
“People just need to get on with it and fight each other,” Buatsi said of the packed British scene at 175lbs.
“I’m not a promoter of anything but ‘Spider’ and I fight, fair enough I won so you might say Buatsi your stock’s gone up, cool. ‘Spider’ didn’t get the result on the weekend, but I can’t say his stock’s gone down. Impossible to say that.
“Of course, people may not want to fight in case they lose. I just see it as we’re all in the same country, let’s make it happen, why not. I hope we [me and Yarde] do get to fight each other.”
Saturday was the first time Buatsi had been involved in a high-profile domestic battle. And they are exactly the type of fights that always whet the appetite of the British boxing public. The 29-year-old certainly enjoyed the experience and wants more.
“What happened on the weekend was very interesting to be a part of rather than being in the audience watching it. And I’d love to actually do that again. Let’s all mix it up. If we can all get it on, then we should.”
Yarde, who is the WBO number one contender, will wait to face the winner of next month’s unification between Artur Beterbiev (WBC, IBF champion) and Joe Smith Jr (WBO champion) according to his promoter Frank Warren.
Buatsi, who says he hopes to fight twice more this year, is now in strong contention to face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. The possibility strengthened today when Canelo Alvarez revealed he will likely face Gennadiy Golovkin in September rather than attempt to avenge his recent loss to Bivol.
Although he is ranked at number three with the sanctioning body, Buatsi will likely move up a spot after the top two Dominic Boesel (1) and Gilberto Ramirez (2) fought one another over a week ago. A fight which the Mexican won by fourth round knockout.