Joshua Buatsi

[Manchester Hitman]

Just listened to an interview with Shalom. Was asked about Matchroom and you could tell he didn’t really want to discuss. Said they gave time for Matchroom to match the deal and it ran out.

I’d imagine there’s nothing clear in the contract for how long they have to match so I’d expect Matchroom to say they’re going down the legal route.

Buatsi’s gone on the offensive re: DAZN so can’t see him going back there but Eddie may decide to try and tie him up a bit legally.

For what it’s worth, my understanding of matching rights is that there is a firm time limit for the applicable party (in this case matchroom) to make their counter offer, once they have had sight of the offers (which Buatsi is obliged to disclose to them) has been made

[maverick23]

Just listened to an interview with Shalom. Was asked about Matchroom and you could tell he didn’t really want to discuss. Said they gave time for Matchroom to match the deal and it ran out.

I’d imagine there’s nothing clear in the contract for how long they have to match so I’d expect Matchroom to say they’re going down the legal route.

Buatsi’s gone on the offensive re: DAZN so can’t see him going back there but Eddie may decide to try and tie him up a bit legally.

For what it’s worth, my understanding of matching rights is that there is a firm time limit for the applicable party (in this case matchroom) to make their counter offer, once they have had sight of the offers (which Buatsi is obliged to disclose to them) has been made

Yeah. It was only Shalom who mentioned time limits. JB said they didn’t match all parts of the deal.

[African Monkey]

For once I actually feel bad for Hearn on this one. Buatsi just wants an easy route to a world title and will avoid all tough challengers. He's a waste of time.

[cpx2]

His next set of opponents should only consist of a couple of the likes of Callum Smith, Gvozdyk, Yarde, Pascal, Smith Jr, Zurdo, Azeez and Bauderlique followed by Bivol or Beterbiev. Rivera may also be an interesting one given he was robbed of a win against Jack but not established at the top to prove enough. Anything else will just continue the disappointment.

Think you're likely to be disappointed. I would guess it'll be Shakan Pitters or possibly an international opponent (Meng?) in Birmingham, and then maybe Azeez in August if we're lucky, but I actually doubt that will be next. I reckon they'll try and milk that all they can, maybe hoping Bivol has to drop the belt or something so they can make it for the full WBA title.

[joshj909]

His next set of opponents should only consist of a couple of the likes of Callum Smith, Gvozdyk, Yarde, Pascal, Smith Jr, Zurdo, Azeez and Bauderlique followed by Bivol or Beterbiev. Rivera may also be an interesting one given he was robbed of a win against Jack but not established at the top to prove enough. Anything else will just continue the disappointment.

Think you're likely to be disappointed. I would guess it'll be Shakan Pitters or possibly an international opponent (Meng?) in Birmingham, and then maybe Azeez in August if we're lucky, but I actually doubt that will be next. I reckon they'll try and milk that all they can, maybe hoping Bivol has to drop the belt or something so they can make it for the full WBA title.

I am expecting disappointment. It might not be until Beterbiev/Bivol retire that he finally "steps up" for a title shot.

[gregregegg]

Huge signing, Love it for boxer. I never quite knew what was holding buatsi back… himself or matchroom.

If you asked me in 2016 “when will buatsi fight for a world title?” I think I would of guessed about 2020… so he is behind schedular for me.

The walls are closing in for hearn a bit. Needs a solid win asap because boxers stick is trending up, Ed’s is trending down. And sky is all powerful

[MightyWarrior]

Buatsi absolutely buried Hearn with that exit line, When my mates want to watch me fight, I now don’t have to tell them to download an app enter their email and give their bank details… Reminded me of that Caleb Plant grave digging “celebration” last time out. Ouch

[cormack]

just another " storm in a teacup "
The reality is Buatsi`s career has been a slow burn against mediocre opponents which he has to take responsibility for.
Hearn wont suffer as a result of this and Boxxer wont suddenly become top dog because they signed JB .

[ashall2]

What is it with Boxxer taking London-born fighters to other cities thinking they'll pack out arenas? There's plenty of venues in London to choose from.

Buatsi's line about DAZN made me laugh, and is also true.

[garethhop]

And the old NEC Birmingham is a disaster for boxing. Expensive to park, pain in the backside to get to.

Even when Matchroom were flying and the Yafais and Eggington were on plus locals were selling tickets, it was always a hard sell.

[Ruthless-RKO]

And the old NEC Birmingham is a disaster for boxing. Expensive to park, pain in the backside to get to.

Even when Matchroom were flying and the Yafais and Eggington were on plus locals were selling tickets, it was always a hard sell.

How did Khan do there when he fought Vargas?

[mickey1975]

And the old NEC Birmingham is a disaster for boxing. Expensive to park, pain in the backside to get to.

Even when Matchroom were flying and the Yafais and Eggington were on plus locals were selling tickets, it was always a hard sell.

How did Khan do there when he fought Vargas?

Khan does well there but it is very Asian.

[garethhop]

Khan was a brilliant ticket sellar everywhere.

He didnt fight at this arena though - he was in the city centre Utilita

[Ruthless-RKO]

Khan was a brilliant ticket sellar everywhere.

He didnt fight at this arena though - he was in the city centre Utilita

Ah I see. The old Barclaycard arena?

[mickey1975]

Khan was a brilliant ticket sellar everywhere.

He didnt fight at this arena though - he was in the city centre Utilita

Sheffield wasn’t that full. Nor was Manchester for Kotelnik. Half shut in fact.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Khan was a brilliant ticket sellar everywhere.

He didnt fight at this arena though - he was in the city centre Utilita

Sheffield wasn’t that full. Nor was Manchester for Kotelnik. Half shut in fact.

His comeback to UK was sold out Echo and Brum.

[mickey1975]

Khan was a brilliant ticket sellar everywhere.

He didnt fight at this arena though - he was in the city centre Utilita

Sheffield wasn’t that full. Nor was Manchester for Kotelnik. Half shut in fact.

His comeback to UK was sold out Echo and Brum.

I know, that's why i didn't mention them.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Matchroom CEO Responds To Joshua Buatsi, Claims of Inactivity

“There’s been delays throughout his career,” Smith told Pro Boxing Fans. “I saw him say, ‘I was always training,’ but Josh would go on holidays or he would want a 14-week camp or 12-week camp out with (trainer) Virgil (Hunter in the United States) and the timeframes. We always wanted him active. We always wanted him to fight every four months or whatever it was and keep him busy. So, it was frustrating for us as well because we invested in his career and we know how to build fighters. So that was a frustration for us.”

“I was disappointed and upset really, I guess, about some of the ways it was portrayed yesterday, and some of the messaging,” Smith added. “I feel like we had a good relationship with Josh. I feel like we did a good job over the five or six years we were with him. We built together from his professional debut and offered him those big opportunities. We have to move from there. We have to focus on the stable of fighters we have with us.”

“I guess he means that we wanted to sign an extension,” Smith said. “We’re getting him an opportunity at that point for a voluntary challenge for the world title against probably the pound-for-pound [top] fighter. It’s very standard. It’s not untoward in the business. If you ask anyone that’s what they do. Just like a long-term deal he signed now [with Sky].

“‘Here you go, here’s an opportunity to fight for a voluntary challenge against Dmitry Bivol,’” Smith said. “It’s not 'caveats.' It’s part of the deal. It’s very standard. It’s every fight, you can imagine, has that.”

[a force]

I don’t blame Buatsi for going with Sky. He can get a fight for a world title in the Middle East with Hearn with options & a rematch clause or he can become properly known in this country with the sky hype & end up fighting for a world title at home potentially on box office if they hype him up right.

As for Sam Jones comments. Laughable. Canelo ain’t coming back to 175 in a hurry, certainly not to fight Buatsi, Berlanga’s a complete nobody in this country & there’s no way that’s a big fight anywhere unless one of them has a world title & Callum Smith’s semi retired. If he loses to Beterbiev he’s done. He can’t be bothered to fight anymore.

[daz74]

Whilst I think he should’ve taken the shot at Bivol, I guess he’s like many fighters who want to protect their unbeaten status until they feel the time is right to put it on the line. I think he beats Azeez easily, and it will be interesting who he fights after.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[veriton]

I don't get the bit about the app being a problem, it's hardly held netflix, prime or dosney back.

Buatsi just seems a bit awkward about what he wants.

He's turning into another Callum Johnson in terms of inactivity and wasted talent

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joshua Buatsi’s Former Manager Will Harvey (258 MGT) Reveals Struggle To Match Buatsi Tough, “These Guys Don’t Really Like To Take Risks”

Joshua Buatsi’s Slow-Moving Career Is Partially Down To His Coach’s Unwillingness To Match Him Tough Explains Will Harvey.

After an encouraging start to his pro career in July 2017, Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) has struggled with activity over the last few years managing just four bouts in the last three years compared to the twelve occasions he fought on in the two years prior to that.

Buatsi’s progression also hasn’t been where many feel it should be, including his former representatives Will Harvey (258 MGT) and Eddie Hearn. The 2016 Olympian has only fought twice above domestic level in his career, his last two fights against Ricards Bolotniks and Craig Richards.

His former manager Harvey explained to Seconds Out why there was a real struggle to create momentum for the highly-rated Light Heavyweight contender.

He stated that a part of it was down to COVID/Injuries which obviously slowed down Buatsi’s progression and activity but acknowledged that some of it was down to his coaches’ unwillingness to match him as tough as they would’ve liked.

“His coaches which he’s had, very experienced, very old school. These guys don’t really like to take risks, they have quite an old-school mentality in terms of how they want to progress the fighter so there was probably an element of battling against them to kind of get the opponents we wanted to and maybe they wanted to take things a little bit more slowly.”

The rate at which other Olympic medalists progressed and the speed at which 258/Matchroom wanted to move Buatsi could not be matched due to Robert McCracken and Virgil Hunter’s insistence on moving Buatsi slower, according to Harvey.

His former promoter Eddie Hearn slammed Buatsi earlier this month for turning down fights. ‘Disappointed, ‘that guy’ took him from pro debut to British, Commonwealth, World #1. Walked him into a 7 figure payday to fight Bivol for the world title, didn’t want that fight, didn’t want the Jean Pascal fight.’

The WBA #1 will make his BOXXER debut on May 6 at Birmingham’s 15,000-capacity Resorts World Arena live on Sky Sports. As first reported by NoSmokeSport.com, Joshua Buatsi will face Poland’s unbeaten, world-ranked contender Pawel Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KOs).

The Pole was scheduled to face WBC mandatory challenger Callum Smith before Smith pulled out with ten days to go citing an injury. The fight between Smith and Stepien was subject to heavy criticism on social media, criticism which Buatsi has also received for picking Stepien as his opponent.

It must be said though that Buatsi is teaming up with a new promoter and has had a year out of the ring, which makes the opponent easier to justify for him than Smith, who has been ordered to face unified champion Artur Beterbiev next.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[joshj909]

Can we finally get Buatsi vs Yarde now?