Light-heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi will show his solidarity for the Black Lives Matters movement by taking the knee before his fight with Marko Calic on Sunday.
Buatsi-Calic takes place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US, and the Croydon star wants to take advantage of that platform to highlight racial injustice after the killing of George Floyd in America in May that sparked protests worldwide.
“It’s very important to me, very close to my heart,” Buatsi told Sky Sports. “Just to raise awareness about what is going on.
“It’s as simple as that. I’ve got a platform and the least I can do as an athlete, as a person, is to bring this to light. Bringing awareness, raising awareness to what’s been going on.”
Managed by unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) has been out of action for a year since KOing Ryan Ford in seven rounds in October 2019.
“It has been 400 days and counting, so I’m glad to be back. I’ve got a good opponent and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to box on Sunday,” said Buatsi. “Staying around family and loved ones has helped me through this difficult year. There’s a lot of negative stuff that has happened this year but for me it’s about looking on the positive side of things.
“I’m 27-years-old and I’ve still got years ahead of me. I’m just waiting, and an opportunity is here on Sunday. That’s all I’m thinking about right now. I’m fixed on it. What I like to do is surpass expectations. Things have happened that have stalled things. On Sunday, it’s all about winning. I’d like to get out again before the end of the year.
“[Calic] is unbeaten, he’s hungry, he wants to fight, he wants to win. I’ve got the same attitude and in those ropes I know I’m a totally different person. Right now I’m cool, I’m calm, polite. We can talk and everything, but in that ring, I know what time it is.”
Main image: Joshua Buatsi by Scott Rawsthorne.