Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic - 4 October 2020

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Quotes

Joshua Buatsi: “Marko Calic is a solid opponent who will be coming to win. He’s very experienced in the amateur scene and was around on the circuit years before me. He boxed in the 91kg category as an amateur, I always fought at 81kg. He's represented his country in a lot of tournaments, Europeans, World Championships and the World Series of Boxing. This is a well-established amateur.

As a pro he is undefeated with a record of 11-0. That’s all I need to know about him. He had loads of WSB fights so he knows what he is doing. He knows how to handle himself. It’s my job to go in there and to come out on top, which I’m very confident of doing. I’m doing everything that I can to make sure that I remain unbeaten on October 4th. The aim is to go out there and box, get some rounds in. I wouldn’t shy away from saying if I hurt someone within the first couple of rounds, I’m there to close the show. The overall aim is to win. That’s where my mind set is at. On October 4th that’s what I’m getting in there to do.”

Marko Calic: “I have known Joshua Buatsi since my days in the amateurs. I have followed his professional career since he switched from the amateurs after the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. He is a strong fighter and has a good boxing IQ. He is a good technician, but I also believe in my boxing ability and I will be ready on October 4.

“As an amateur, I was fighting at 91kg in the Heavyweight category, so our paths never crossed in the ring. When I was in the European Championships in Samokov in 2015, I think he won a bronze medal, so yes I know him pretty well. I’ve watched him progress in the professional ranks and he is a good fighter, so I will be well prepared.

“I expect that Buatsi will come forward and take the fight to me. I will try to counterpunch him, but I will also be ready to fight fire with fire. My main focus is to do my best. One of my main strengths is that I am taller than most of my opponents. I am also a very good technical boxer with a high boxing IQ.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[steve689]

Why not set off some fireworks as well for good measure? Fur coat and no knickers from Eddie as usual. Get Buatsi a decent opponent, forget about the fancy venue they can scrap in a car park for all I care.

[rd350lc]

Don't give a toss about the fight , as long as we get "sweet Caroline " I'm a happy bunny .

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn has tested positive for Covid. Has to leave the bubble.

[TheLeprechaun]

This fight night is on Sunday which is kind of odd.

[jameswilson]

This fight night is on Sunday which is kind of odd.

It’s something I hear Hearn talk about and I think ‘surely it’s been done before by another uk promoter’ but actually has it?

Seems clear he’s trying it to fit in after Super Sunday football which may work.

I don’t know. I think the figures here may be lower than expected.

In saying that I’m not aware whether football on Sunday’s has lower viewers than say a 5.30 Saturday game.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This fight night is on Sunday which is kind of odd.

Maybe MK Dons are playing at home on Saturday?

[mickey1975]

This fight night is on Sunday which is kind of odd.

It’s something I hear Hearn talk about and I think ‘surely it’s been done before by another uk promoter’ but actually has it?

Seems clear he’s trying it to fit in after Super Sunday football which may work.

I don’t know. I think the figures here may be lower than expected.

In saying that I’m not aware whether football on Sunday’s has lower viewers than say a 5.30 Saturday game.

Benn-Watson, Boomer at Goodison.

[TheLeprechaun]

This fight night is on Sunday which is kind of odd.

It’s something I hear Hearn talk about and I think ‘surely it’s been done before by another uk promoter’ but actually has it?

Seems clear he’s trying it to fit in after Super Sunday football which may work.

I don’t know. I think the figures here may be lower than expected.

In saying that I’m not aware whether football on Sunday’s has lower viewers than say a 5.30 Saturday game.

Sunday might be a decent time. More people are going to be home than on a Saturday night. I always wondered why Sunday night was never used. The main event would have to start at about 9.30pm

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eddie Hearn explains why Matchroom Boxing chose the Marshall Arena at Stadium MK

Matchroom Boxing have transformed the Marshall Arena at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes ahead of rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi’s return to the ring against Marko Calic on Sunday, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The largest indoor space in the town, Marshall Arena opened its doors in 2014 to host the National Badminton Championships. Since then it has hosted several major sporting events, including the PDC 2020 World Matchplay and Premier League Darts.

As well as playing host to Matchroom Boxing’s latest behind closed doors event this weekend, Marshall Arena is also the home of the BetVictor Championship League Snooker for the week, with all of the action shown on Matchroom Live.

The testing of all boxers, their teams and support staff began at the start of the week, with individuals being tested for Coronavirus before being allowed entry into the official hotel bio bubble to participate in the media events.

A state-of-the-art media zone has been built onsite where fighters on the card will undergo their media obligations, including today’s media session, tomorrow’s press conference chaired by promoter Eddie Hearn and Saturday’s weigh-in.

Fighters are able to put the finishing touches to their training camps in the boxing gym that has been constructed on the site of the hotel. The gym includes a boxing ring, heavy bag, speedball, stretching area and cardio equipment.

"After the success of Fight Camp, we needed a blank canvas to create a creative solution to boxing behind closed doors," said Promoter Eddie Hearn. "The Marshall Arena and the Stadium MK facilities have proved perfect across our PDC Darts and World Snooker events and I’m excited for fight fans to see our efforts this week and particularly Sunday night."

Croydon's rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) tops the bill as he defends his WBA International Title against undefeated Croat Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs), Chantelle Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) lands a World Title shot in her very first bout as a Matchroom fighter as she takes on Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC Super-Lightweight crown, ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) returns to the UK looking to impress again as he locks horns with Irishman Niall Kennedy (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round Heavyweight contest, Luton’s Linus Udofia (15-0, 7 KOs) puts his English Middleweight Title on the line for the first time against Dillian Whyte-backed Brixton man John Harding Jr (8-1-1, 2 KOs), Aqib Fiaz (5-0) and Kane Baker (13-6) look to settle the score after their Fight Camp disappointment and Takeley Super-Middleweight giant John Hedges makes his professional debut against Jan Ardon (2-4).

[rd350lc]

Wouldn't surprise me if a few more get tested positive and this gets binned .
Hope not tho .

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wouldn't surprise me if a few more get tested positive and this gets binned .
Hope not tho .

Everyone was tested at same time. Everyone else was negative.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[rd350lc]

Wouldn't surprise me if a few more get tested positive and this gets binned .
Hope not tho .

Everyone was tested at same time. Everyone else was negative.

That's good news then

[handsofstone]

Had never heard of Calic until now, I read he was a decent amateur and fought in WBS , has a couple wins over Babic in the ams, apart from that zilch, unbeaten but resume is woeful, doesn't necessarily mean he's crap but Buatsi far better matched so far, I'm hoping Calic can make a fight of it and go some rounds but Buatsi a bit special

[Ruthless-RKO]

Had never heard of Calic until now, I read he was a decent amateur and fought in WBS , has a couple wins over Babic in the ams, apart from that zilch, unbeaten but resume is woeful, doesn't necessarily mean he's crap but Buatsi far better matched so far, I'm hoping Calic can make a fight of it and go some rounds but Buatsi a bit special

Would defo be good if Calic gave him a fight..

[handsofstone]

Had never heard of Calic until now, I read he was a decent amateur and fought in WBS , has a couple wins over Babic in the ams, apart from that zilch, unbeaten but resume is woeful, doesn't necessarily mean he's crap but Buatsi far better matched so far, I'm hoping Calic can make a fight of it and go some rounds but Buatsi a bit special

Would defo be good if Calic gave him a fight..

I'm expecting its gonna be the 2 dames who steal the show once again, I've loved pretty much every female fight since lockdown, long may they reign

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Cameron’s opponent came in overweight.

[PredatorHayds]

Didn’t Calic get a gift over Kody Davies in the amateurs?
Good amateur pedigree but little professional fanfare.
I don’t think he carries much ambition and has come over here for the payday.

Buatsi early-mid rounds from body shots.

[jameswilson]

Cameron’s opponent came in overweight.

Just hearing she check weighed Thursday or Friday at 145lbs and was told by BBBoC and WBC that she couldn’t weigh less than that at the weigh in.

Never heard that rule before? I know the wbc have check weigh ins but can’t remember that being the rule.

In other weigh in news I thought Aqib Fiaz looked soft and Alen Babic came in at 199lbs.