Former Olympian Joshua Buatsi has criticized Anthony Yarde’s recent victory over Ralfs Vilcans, stating that the fight was not challenging and routine. During a conversation on The Stomping Ground, Buatsi shared his thoughts after watching Yarde’s return to the ring.
Buatsi, who has been considered a potential opponent for Yarde, mentioned that the Londoner’s fight, held after more than a year out of the ring, offered no major surprises. “He hurt the guy in the first round, and I thought it might end in three, but fair play to the guy, he was tough and stayed until the last round,” Buatsi said, referring to Vilcans, Yarde’s opponent, who lasted until the end of the bout.
Buatsi acknowledged that while Yarde performed well, there was no real danger in the fight. “It was a routine fight for Yarde; there weren’t any real dangers,” added the Ghanaian-born boxer. However, he also expressed respect for Vilcans, saying the Lithuanian showed tenacity by resisting and remaining competitive until the end.
Anthony Yarde defends the quality of his opponent.
Anthony Yarde, on the other hand, shared his perspective with The Stomping Ground after the fight, highlighting his opponent’s toughness and defending the quality of the match. According to Yarde, although Vilcans was a last-minute replacement, he came off a significant win against a hard-hitting knockout artist.
“A lot of people come back and have what you’d call a walkover fight—six rounds, eight rounds—but that guy in there, I told you, he could take a lot of the domestic guys all the way,” the British fighter commented, emphasizing that his opponent had only lost once and had never been knocked out.
Yarde also admitted that knocking down Vilcans in the first 10 seconds of the fight negatively affected his strategy. “I rushed things, and I needed rounds. This was my first time going 10 rounds,” he acknowledged. The Hackney boxer noted that his main goal was to spend more time in the ring, and while he won by decision, he wasn’t fully satisfied with the middle rounds.
A fight between Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yarde has yet to be finalized.
The long-anticipated fight between Buatsi and Yarde has been a topic of conversation among boxing fans for some time, but it has yet to be finalized. There has been talk of the fight taking place in Saudi Arabia, given the country’s growing interest in hosting major boxing events. Buatsi didn’t rule out the possibility, though he admitted he would prefer the fight to be held in England so local fans could attend.
Yarde also discussed the seemingly inevitable clash, expressing his wish that the fight had already happened, but made it clear that it wasn’t his fault it hadn’t been arranged. “That wasn’t my fault. Me and him spoke on the phone personally. He chose to fight Hutchinson instead. But again, this isn’t the ‘Buatsi show.’ There are other fights out there for me in this exciting division,” Yarde explained.
Anthony Yarde also noted that both fighters are interested in facing each other, but Joshua Buatsi made a more strategic business decision by opting for another fight. “He made a smarter business decision to fight Hutchinson first,” Yarde said.
However, Yarde held no grudge against Buatsi and affirmed that he respects him. “I’m not going to criticize him or say he’s ducking me, because he’s not,” the Londoner mentioned. “Me and him are definitely going to fight, that’s for sure.”
A match between Yarde and Buatsi, two of the top light-heavyweights in the UK, would be one of the most significant bouts in the scene. Both boxers boast impressive records and contrasting styles that could deliver a top-level spectacle. Yarde, who emphasized that he’s learned a lot from his last fight, expressed confidence that when the time comes to face Buatsi, he will emerge victorious.
“I win, 100%. I know what to expect from him. I’ve seen him fight before. Obviously, it’s different when you’re in there with someone, but I’ve learned a lot. The guy I fought today had a very awkward, strange style. It’s all a learning experience,” Yarde concluded.
Despite acknowledging Joshua Buatsi’s technical skill, Anthony Yarde feels he has the tools necessary to beat him. With both fighters expressing interest in the bout, all that remains is for the terms to be finalized and the date set. Whenever the fight takes place, it will undoubtedly capture the attention of the boxing world, whether it’s held at London’s iconic O2 Arena or in a luxury destination like Saudi Arabia.
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