Promoter Eddie Hearn cast doubt on the now-postponed Joshua Buatsi-Dan Azeez fight ten days before it was confirmed as off.
Over a week ago, the promoter told Boxing Social that he heard the domestic light-heavyweight clash between the two undefeated fighters wasn’t to go ahead as planned.
“Of all the bulls**t rumours your hear, probably 20% are true, but I hear that Buatsi-Azeez is not happening on October 21st. That’s one of the things that I’ve seen. I guess time will tell.”
This week it was confirmed that the main event is postponed with a rescheduled date planned but not cemented. Azeez has revealed that he suffered a back injury in his final training session, leading doctors to insist he not compete.
Speaking on TalkSPORT about his prediction, Hearn said that the information he had prior was relating to sales rather than an injury.
“I don’t know about any injury. In boxing you hear a lot of stuff, some stuff that’s true some that’s not. I was asked about it and, this is just what I heard, the event wasn’t going particularly well and it was unlikely to take place.
The promoter said it was ‘strange’ for an injury to happen so close to fight night. Azeez or the promotion didn’t disclose whether or not the injury was something they initially thought he could fight through, or if it happened this week.
Whether that was true or not and he ended up getting an injury – it’s very strange to get an injury on the Tuesday of fight week. It’s a shame, because it was a good fight.”
“It very rarely happens when you’ve gone through camp. This is a period where you’re not really doing that much, you’re tapering down in weight, you’re not having any strenuous sessions, not having strength and conditioning.
Finally, Hearn said it was another hit to Buatsi’s career – a man he promoted until March of this year.
Of course, injuries can happen at any time. I’m sure it’s very legitimate, and it’s a shame. Buatsi’s career is really stalled horrifically. He needs to get himself a shot at the world title and that was hopefully the fight that was gonna do it.”
The rest of the BOXXER and Sky Sports card will proceed, with the Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain fight for the British Cruiserweight title headlining.