Boxing Social understands that talks are already underway for an April clash between British light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) and Craig Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs).
Although a deal has not been completed it is a fight that is trying to be made by the parties involved.
Buatsi and Richards are both promoted by Matchroom with the former under the 258 Management umbrella who also work with Anthony Joshua and Lawrence Okolie.
Across the governing bodies the World Boxing Association have each fighter in their top 10 light-heavyweight rankings with Buatsi at three and Richards at seven. The former also holds the number four position with the World Boxing Organisation.
Eddie Hearn, who recently had an offer for Buatsi to fight Queensberry’s Anthony Yarde turned down by Frank Warren, has recently spoken of his interest at pitting his two light heavyweights against one another.
Buatsi had been scheduled to face former world title challenger Maxim Vlasov on the Dereck Chisora-Joseph Parker 2 undercard on December 18. However, the Brit withdrew with due to injury leaving his 2021 with two fights and two wins against Daniel Blenda Dos Santos and Ricards Bolotniks. The latter of which proved to be something of a litmus test for Buatsi which he passed after his tough battle against the Latvian ended in the penultimate 11th round.
While the 28-year-old Buatsi has yet to challenge for a world title Richards got a taste at the top when he challenged Dmitry Bivol for the Russian’s WBA light-heavyweight title. Their May 2021 bout ended with a unanimous decision win for Bivol. The 31-year-old nicknamed ‘Spider’ returned to winning ways in October with a sixth-round stoppage victory against Marek Matyja.