Joshua Buatsi vs. Ricky Summers - WBC International Title - 28 July 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joshua Buatsi can propel himself up the WBC rankings when he battles Ricky Summers for the WBC international belt at The O2.

The 25-year-old light-heavyweight takes on Summers, a former British title challenger, on the undercard for Dillian Whyte's heavyweight clash with Joseph Parker on July 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

It's a swift return to action for Buatsi, who produced a ruthless stoppage of Stephane Cuevas at the same venue in May.

"Fighting for my first belt definitely adds excitement," said Buatsi. "It is helping to fuel the work I'm doing in training as it adds a physical reward for all the effort I'm putting in.

"Our paths have crossed once, Ricky seemed a good guy. My debut was on the undercard of his British title shot against Frank Buglioni last July. I know that he will train hard, is going to come to fight and will have the desire to win, so it is all set up to be an exciting fight.

"I'm back fighting at The O2 and I'm going to make it the 'Lion's Den'. I love fighting there and plan to put on a show to create an incredible atmosphere when we are in the ring.

"My team have the experience and knowledge to guide my career and to make the correct decisions which allows me to prepare and continue to improve, I can't wait."

[Stuarty]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

[KiwiRider]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

[Stuarty]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

This could've maybe met the criteria for the British if Johnson vacates as he's going for a world title next.

[KiwiRider]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

This could've maybe met the criteria for the British if Johnson vacates as he's going for a world title next.

That's the thing though, isn't it?
I think Johnson beats Buatsi. No mention of ever making that fight, or having a go at Bugsy. Yarde, Burton and Conroy. That's 5 cracking domestic fights at LHW.

[Stuarty]

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

This could've maybe met the criteria for the British if Johnson vacates as he's going for a world title next.

That's the thing though, isn't it?
I think Johnson beats Buatsi. No mention of ever making that fight, or having a go at Bugsy. Yarde, Burton and Conroy. That's 5 cracking domestic fights at LHW.

Deffo mate! I'm all for domestic fights! Can't beat them

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

Not just you.. these guys just want to get ranked and not lost at domestic and win a world title quick.

Nothing wrong with losing early in your career. Plenty have lost and still won a world title. Makes a good story too.

[ElJefe]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

This could've maybe met the criteria for the British if Johnson vacates as he's going for a world title next.

I don't think Johnson is vacating, think he's keeping hold of it in case he loses to Beterbiev. Makes sense to be fair as he's clearly very good at domestic level so if he was to lose to Beterbiev he'd be in the who needs him club if he didn't have the British.

Still, as long as those fights are made for Buatsi (Summers, Burton, Buglioni), I'm relatively happy.

[KiwiRider]

Bout time they gave Buatsi someone with a pulse!

I think a lot of people ( or maybe just me) were hoping he would take the traditional route- Commonwealth, European then a world title. It almost feels like a duck going right into international belts when there is some great domestic fights to be made first.
Maybe he can't fight for the British, but Ghana is in the commonwealth last time I checked, unless the Nigerians scammed them out of it

Not just you.. these guys just want to get ranked and not lost at domestic and win a world title quick.

Nothing wrong with losing early in your career. Plenty have lost and still won a world title. Makes a good story too.

The other thing is; there are 4 decent LHW prospects resident in the UK right now, plus the experienced Bugsy. Add to that a couple of possible prospects, and yet I couldn't for the life of me say who is the best.
With all that talent bubbling to the surface, it doesn't make sense having guys like Yarde and Buatsi skipping over the current and emerging talent pool without at least dipping a toe in the water.
Surely before you reach out on the world stage, you ensure your the best in your country of residence
And of course, I selfishly really want to see Johnson/Buatsi/Yarde/Buglioni et al fight. Those would be some defining fights, fairly easilly made.

[jamamb]

domestic opposition isnt in itself better in terms of quality of opposition

like, there was a lot of calling for yarde to fight burton and moaning that yarde fought guys from other places instead, but tell me why burtons a superior test to the last 3 yarde has fought? burton was stopped the 1 time he fought above english level. his best 2 wins are a guy who just got destroyed for the english, and an english level smw.

a guy like skejoka drew for the 175 ebu title immedaitely before yarde faced him and had never been stopped, just because were less famililar with guys like that doesnt to me make local opponents better

BUT

i will say, when you take a comparable level of opponent, the domestic one can make for a more exciting build up and atmosphere because of the greater familiarity and the greater home support they bring vs an import

[KiwiRider]

domestic opposition isnt in itself better in terms of quality of opposition

I get that. I would like to know who is the best LHW based in the UK though. Out of all the weight classes, this one has the most prospective contenders (IMO) and wouldn't it be nice to know who is the best, before some of them hit the world stage?
It just seems like a duck. And also a missed career step. If Yarde does well in the near future, there will always be that question in the back of my mind- is he the best in the UK? Same goes for Buatsi. Callum beat Frank- OK that's great, could he defend against Yarde? I want to know.

[leejonesjnr]

Has it been announced who is boxing Buatsi now that Summers is out?

[Stuarty]

Has it been announced who is boxing Buatsi now that Summers is out?

FFS didn't know he was out! Hopefully it's someone who'll test him. Level of opposition so far has been poor.

[African Monkey]

So with Kell Brook possibly out and now this fight falling through, the undercard for Parker v Whyte is looking very average now (if it didn't already).

[ElJefe]

Has there been any official word on Summers pulling out? Or are Matchroom just trying to keep it quiet so nobody notices that the undercard is shite?

[maley1984]

Has there been any official word on Summers pulling out? Or are Matchroom just trying to keep it quiet so nobody notices that the undercard is shite?

I know of him and his trainer and they have posted it on their Facebook's but saw nothing from matchroom about him pulling out.

[KiwiRider]

Urgh!

I'm not sure about the PPV now.
I was counting on a good undercard to help persuade management.
Brook-out
Taylor- no unification
Buatsi- probably some Eastern European pulseless stand in
So;
Parker/Whyte OK
Del Boy/Takem yeah alright
Taylor and an easy beat
Then what?

[KiwiRider]

This is going to cost me $50!
To give reference- Manny/Lucas is $35 this weekend.
It's a lot of money.

[3132DW]

So with Kell Brook possibly out and now this fight falling through, the undercard for Parker v Whyte is looking very average now (if it didn't already).

What’s up with Brook ?

[African Monkey]

So with Kell Brook possibly out and now this fight falling through, the undercard for Parker v Whyte is looking very average now (if it didn't already).

What’s up with Brook ?

Read somewhere that his ankle is no good and that it's likely he won't be fighting on this card.

[ElJefe]

Brandon Cook has said on his Twitter that the fight is off. Apparently Eddie said he'd get him another fight but Cook hasn't heard anything.

[3132DW]

Brandon Cook has said on his Twitter that the fight is off. Apparently Eddie said he'd get him another fight but Cook hasn't heard anything.

Was thinking Sam Eggington maybe then for Cook ?

[keirw]

Cheeseman vs Cook and Buglioni vs Buatsi would probably save the card, but I doubt either of those fights can be made at such short notice.

[Kenyatta]

Best if Buatsi fights someone from Africa maybe Ghana. That will really test him.

[3132DW]

Cheeseman vs Cook and Buglioni vs Buatsi would probably save the card, but I doubt either of those fights can be made at such short notice.

Cheeseman is fighting Byfield (sp)

Eggington v Cook in Birmingham is just about signed.