Callum Johnson vs. Joshua Buatsi - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

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Eddie Hearn, the promoter for light heavyweights Callum Johnson and Joshua Buatsi, could see his two boxers colliding with either a European or world title at stake.

While there has been some chatter about the two boxers colliding in the ring, Hearn would like to avoid the scenario of matching his fighters against each other.

But, due to the travel restrictions involved with the coronavirus pandemic - Johnson vs. Buatsi could become a reality.

"With the environment that we're in, two Brits facing each other? It could be the way we end up going," Hearn told Sky Sports.

"I don't really like making fights between two of our own guys. But I understand that Johnson vs Buatsi is a fantastic all-British fight. It could be for a world title. In the short-term it could be for a European title. I know Johnson and Buatsi like this fight.

"It's risky for both. Risky for Johnson because he's looking for a world-title shot and would be fighting an undefeated domestic contender. Risky for Buatsi because Johnson is world-level and he hasn't boxed at that level again."

Johnson has one defeat on his record, which came at the hands of current WBC, IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev.

He exceeded expectations when he drop Beterbiev in the bout, but the champion rallied to stop Johnson in four.

Hearn views Johnson as a very dangerous opponent for everyone at 175-pounds.

"Johnson is a dark horse - he went into the Beterbiev fight without the momentum that we would have liked," Hearn said. "Everybody else said no, he said yes.

"He did brilliantly in that fight. With more belief and momentum and activity he might have beaten Beterbiev. He put him over. Beterbiev looked in all kinds of trouble. Johnson didn't have the experience to put his foot on the gas but now he would do.

"He came back and destroyed Sean Monaghan, a great performance. His proposed fight with Igor Mikhalkin is tough - he's boxed Sergey Kovalev, he's extremely tough. He's in a great position and I really believe he can win a world title. He's already proved that he can hang with the best."

[Cholo_cws]

Doesn't like doing business with allegedly, says he doesn't like matching his own guys....what a blessed gift you are to boxing fans.

[DazBoxingFan]

Are pros even back training in a gym yet? Hearn always jumping the gun with dates. Don’t see any shows being till august if I’m honest

[forcefraser]

Is Callum Johnson world level?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is Callum Johnson world level?

I don't think so

[BigDoofus]

Cue a one hour interview with Kugs listening to how brilliant Eddie is

[THEBUTCH]

I'm not convinced Johnson is world class yet, but he's very handy. If anything I'd say the Beterbiev knockdown flattered him, but nevertheless, he did drop him.

Cracking matchup with Buatsi. I see no reason why the British title shouldn't be on the line too...unless a vacant world title becomes available, but let's get real we know who the real world champions are

[brilo33]

Is Callum Johnson world level?

is buatsi though

[brilo33]

this is an interseting fight cant be botherd commenting on furture fights as dont look like there happen . buatsi to me in his first few fights looked brilliant i thought world champ here, but his last few fights feel he has taken shots which he shouldnt of took his foot of the pedal, funny as i never rated callum in amongst the top fighters no disrespect great fighters in the divison , but callum is a serious puncher and if lands turns fights, buatsi is a much better boxer but hasnt shown it of that late, this could be his learning fight, i can see callum stopping him,

[forcefraser]

Is Callum Johnson world level?

is buatsi though

Well he hasn't proved it yet. However I was referring to the statement from Eddie Hean that Callum Johnson is World Class. Yes he knocked the beast down but then got stopped easily. Apart from that he beat a hype job in the states and Frank Buglioni. That aint world class in my book, that's a good solid fighter

[Delta Jay]

Classic example of a very good fight where some “hardcore” fans get soured off from Matchroom hyperbole.

Buatsi is now the “nice guy” who “turns it on” when he steps through the ropes and becomes “an animal.” That will be the only thing you hear a commentator say about him for a long time, get used to it.

Don’t have a bad thing to say about either fighter and their performances so far, if international fights get harder to make I hope this gets made and it’s a war.

[bripez]

We don’t have enough all-British European and “World” title fights so I’m glad there are more in the pipeline

[NoScoutingReports]

I'd be happy to see this one. A real marker as to where Buatsi is at and potentially could get to, he's the more rounded fighter but Johnson is a big puncher and Buatsi wouldn't get away with shipping too many clean shots from him.

[macademics]

Johnson is a elite gatekeeper at the world level. I would give him a very good punchers chance of cleaning Buatsi's clock though. He is a little bit too trigger happy at times. Buatsi beat my former gym mate Kennedy Katande in the olympics so he always impressed me from back then but he needs to start moving to European/World level now.

[brilo33]

is buatsi though

Well he hasn't proved it yet. However I was referring to the statement from Eddie Hean that Callum Johnson is World Class. Yes he knocked the beast down but then got stopped easily. Apart from that he beat a hype job in the states and Frank Buglioni. That aint world class in my book, that's a good solid fighter

i agree , i see where your coming from, i mean he has been in with better opposition and has fought a world champion , is he world class ,for me no, more of a gate keeper top outside 10, which if buatsi wins well ,will be a great win for him , i think the buatsi i saw in his first few fights should be well up for this and very capable , it is a dangerous fight ,

[Ruthless-RKO]

allegedly offers to make Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Johnson

Promoter allegedly has offered up light heavyweight Callum Johnson (19-1) as an opponent for rising British star Joshua Buatsi (14-0, 12 KOs).

Here is what the Hall of Fame promoter said: "I saw Joshua Buatsi headline one of Matchroom’s recent shows and a few people have mentioned since that they would love to see him against someone like Callum Johnson.

"We would make that fight in a heartbeat. In. A. Heartbeat! I'm not sure his team would let him near that one – but if he wants to fight a live opponent, it's there if they want it!

"I like Buatsi, he did what he needed to do and it was a good knockout but the fella he was fighting was… he was what he was. But job done for Buatsi. Now come and have a piece of Callum!"

Johnson has just one lone loss on his ledger during a failed title bid against Artur Beterbiev in which Johnson scored a knockdown.

Against Marko Calic, the Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist showed his vulnerability as he struggld to get a foothold in the contest. However, he turned the tide and scored a stoppage by round seven.

The Ghanaian from Croydon stopped unbeaten Frenchman Daniel Blenda Dos Santos in his last fight in May, but 15-0 light-heavy was an overmatched opponent and it offered the 28-year-old very little in his rise up the ranks. With that sixth defence of his WBA International title, Buatsi is now placed at No.2 in the World Boxing Association rankings, one place behind Robin Krasniqi.

Callum Johnson is ranked WBC #13; IBF #9; and WBO #11.

[maverick23]

FW talks about Buatsi’s last opponent but he wasn’t any worse than Johnson’s.

Would be a good fight but if they can’t make it when they’re in the same promotional group then they’re not going to make it now. Hearn isn’t going to let Buatsi fight on BT and won’t offer the money needed to get Frank to allow Callum to fight on one of his shows.

[Monzon83]

It's a great fight as is either vs Yarde. But we'll never see it because for all the patronising bullshit promoters come out with about fans they have no interest in making the fights boxing fans really want to see. For them it's about protecting their investments.

[mickey1975]

If Hearn wanted it, he'd have made it himself.

[MightyWarrior]

They might do it, as both promoters would prob be fairly confident their man could win - Hearn especially as Buatsi would be bookies favourite I think. Callum dangerous but maybe too wild for and his chin is vulnerable ..Buatsis clinical accuracy might take him out

[maverick23]

They might do it, as both promoters would prob be fairly confident their man could win - Hearn especially as Buatsi would be bookies favourite I think. Callum dangerous but maybe too wild for and his chin is vulnerable ..Buatsis clinical accuracy might take him out

Hearn won’t let Buatsi fight on BT and he also won’t pay the amount of money needed to get FW to allow Johnson to fight on a Hearn show so it won’t happen.

FW didn’t even allow Chris Jenkins to take a big purse to fight Conor Benn on a Sky show when Chris and his management team were happy with the offer.

[maverick23]

If Hearn wanted it, he'd have made it himself.

Apparently it was offered but Callum wanted more money (comparable to the rumoured purses Buatsi was getting) and it was a similar time when Joe was calling Eddie and Sky racist.

[mickey1975]

If Hearn wanted it, he'd have made it himself.

Apparently it was offered but Callum wanted more money (comparable to the rumoured purses Buatsi was getting) and it was a similar time when Joe was calling Eddie and Sky racist.

It was offered as the third of a three fight deal. He was happy with the cash for Buatsi but said the first two fights were for peanuts.

[maverick23]

If Hearn wanted it, he'd have made it himself.

Apparently it was offered but Callum wanted more money (comparable to the rumoured purses Buatsi was getting) and it was a similar time when Joe was calling Eddie and Sky racist.

It was offered as the third of a three fight deal. He was happy with the cash for Buatsi but said the first two fights were for peanuts.

Yeah - he wanted the same kind of money Buatsi was supposedly getting for non big fights for similar fights. Was always unlikely to happen - particularly when there are no fans and when Buatsi will have a longer term contract when the financials would have been based on crowds.

I wonder if Callum got much more from FW from his last fight.

[mickey1975]

Does Buatsi even sell tickets? I'm sure 258 get good deals for their lads from Eddie though.