Round-by-Round: Joshua Buatsi vs. Pawel Stepien | Sky Sports - 6 May 2023

[wrighty]

Good point. Had thought that recently. Where’s the stand out talent? Dariusz Michalczewski has been long retired.

ya, maybe adamek too, at least at cruiser he was elite. at c+/b level they have a similar scene to uk, but then drops dramatically when getting to top level

Yeah I feel like there’s been a lot of really good Polish European champions. But when they stepped to World level a lot of them didn’t quite make it in the same way maybe our guys do.

I always see Polish opponents as tough but upright. Maybe with the same conviction I see Ghanaians as being ‘teak tough.’

Mastarnak wasnt bad. Certainly used to come into the ring in fine shape.

[gregregegg]

Haven’t even bothered streaming this… buatsi Vs a polish guy iv never heard of just doesn’t do it for me…

Brittish light heavy has been so frustrating… imagin if buatsi last 3 years he had fought yarde, Johnson, richards, Azeez, Arthur, pitters. Mix a world title shot in, win? Great, loose? Back to these guys..

Been 6 or 7 years since buatsi won an Olympic medal, he had alll the backing in the world and a fairly exciting style, and what’s his pro highlight? He waited till all his shine was gone and then fought Craig richards…

He is a good all round solid fighter.
As a pro, he seems to lack that one punch equaliser that all world champion LHW guys have

Weird to highlight “all“ when bivol is a clear example of a world champ lhw without a 1 punch equaliser… has gone 12 every fight for the last 5 years or somthing crazy like that…

[skanksta]

Okolie vs CBS @ The Vitality is pretty good tbf - looking fwd to that...

[skanksta]

Haven’t even bothered streaming this… buatsi Vs a polish guy iv never heard of just doesn’t do it for me…

Brittish light heavy has been so frustrating… imagin if buatsi last 3 years he had fought yarde, Johnson, richards, Azeez, Arthur, pitters. Mix a world title shot in, win? Great, loose? Back to these guys..

Been 6 or 7 years since buatsi won an Olympic medal, he had alll the backing in the world and a fairly exciting style, and what’s his pro highlight? He waited till all his shine was gone and then fought Craig richards…

He is a good all round solid fighter.
As a pro, he seems to lack that one punch equaliser that all world champion LHW guys have

Weird to highlight “all“ when bivol is a clear example of a world champ lhw without a 1 punch equaliser… has gone 12 every fight for the last 5 years or somthing crazy like that…

He took out the KO Doctor with one punch - his power is fine; just not his style..

[KiwiRider]

Haven’t even bothered streaming this… buatsi Vs a polish guy iv never heard of just doesn’t do it for me…

Brittish light heavy has been so frustrating… imagin if buatsi last 3 years he had fought yarde, Johnson, richards, Azeez, Arthur, pitters. Mix a world title shot in, win? Great, loose? Back to these guys..

Been 6 or 7 years since buatsi won an Olympic medal, he had alll the backing in the world and a fairly exciting style, and what’s his pro highlight? He waited till all his shine was gone and then fought Craig richards…

He is a good all round solid fighter.
As a pro, he seems to lack that one punch equaliser that all world champion LHW guys have

Weird to highlight “all“ when bivol is a clear example of a world champ lhw without a 1 punch equaliser… has gone 12 every fight for the last 5 years or somthing crazy like that…

Yes, Bivol is a rare thing. He does what he wants in the ring, and he mostly likes to box.
But you know what I ment.

[gregregegg]

He is a good all round solid fighter.
As a pro, he seems to lack that one punch equaliser that all world champion LHW guys have

Weird to highlight “all“ when bivol is a clear example of a world champ lhw without a 1 punch equaliser… has gone 12 every fight for the last 5 years or somthing crazy like that…

Yes, Bivol is a rare thing. He does what he wants in the ring, and he mostly likes to box.
But you know what I ment.

Andre ward?

I know what you ment… and I kinda believed it until I stopped to think. I Don’t think you gotta be a banger to do well at 175…

[mickey1975]

I was at an amateur show tonight so didn't watch. Speaking to a few people, who i would say were more than casuals. people weren't interested in this at all. Boxxer have done their cash in on Buatsi...

[margaret thatcher]

i dont think buatsi is particularly lacking in power.......flattened a hard head in bolo. has laid other guys out too. physically seems pretty strong to me too. it seems to me more like in his last 2 fights he didnt show the 2nd gear to really push guys into the danger zone. he's boxed like one of these overly steady guys who is perfectly content as long as he's winning most rounds

when did he get with hunter? that could be playing into it, hunter is known to be very averse to his fighters taking risks during fights.

he's coming off like he's been neutered or something tbh. trying to be some type of point scoring pure boxer now rather than a boxer puncher who accumulates and grinds and beats up guys

[KiwiRider]

Weird to highlight “all“ when bivol is a clear example of a world champ lhw without a 1 punch equaliser… has gone 12 every fight for the last 5 years or somthing crazy like that…

Yes, Bivol is a rare thing. He does what he wants in the ring, and he mostly likes to box.
But you know what I ment.

Andre ward?

I know what you ment… and I kinda believed it until I stopped to think. I Don’t think you gotta be a banger to do well at 175…

Andre Ward had his signature shot- "The Nutcracker"
Ward was banging them out early on, but the second half of his career was high level and I think he applied caution.

[gregregegg]

Bolot vs olek starting now. I’m interested in this, olek was world proper good.

Mabey 1000 fans in early enough for it…

Ring looks tiny.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bolot vs olek starting now. I’m interested in this, olek was world proper good.

Mabey 1000 fans in early enough for it…

Ring looks tiny.

Wrong thread?

[gregregegg]

Bolot vs olek starting now. I’m interested in this, olek was world proper good.

Mabey 1000 fans in early enough for it…

Ring looks tiny.

Wrong thread?

Yep

[CaptainSpacerod]

Massive credit to John, could’ve bailed but he’s still fighting back. Fairplay to him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[tony1234]

I'm not sure what Boxxer have spent on the likes of Buatsi, Okolie and Lauren Price but they've been had over. Not sure how you can promote Buatsi as any kind of world title challenger on the back of that and Price is just a channel changer.
The only good thing about Whittaker is now everyone is going to pay to see him flattened but his antics were demeaning to Grant last night and the ref should have told him to pack it in instead of laughing at him. Imagine Harry Gibb reffing that ? He would have chinned Whittaker himself for being so disrespectful

[ashall2]

I'm not sure what Boxxer have spent on the likes of Buatsi, Okolie and Lauren Price but they've been had over. Not sure how you can promote Buatsi as any kind of world title challenger on the back of that and Price is just a channel changer.
The only good thing about Whittaker is now everyone is going to pay to see him flattened but his antics were demeaning to Grant last night and the ref should have told him to pack it in instead of laughing at him. Imagine Harry Gibb reffing that ? He would have chinned Whittaker himself for being so disrespectful

Sky have had their pants pulled down with Buatsi and Okolie. Hearn won’t be arsed one bit about losing them.

I think Buatsi will quit when the going gets tough at the highest level.

[Controversial]

I'm not sure what Boxxer have spent on the likes of Buatsi, Okolie and Lauren Price but they've been had over. Not sure how you can promote Buatsi as any kind of world title challenger on the back of that and Price is just a channel changer.
The only good thing about Whittaker is now everyone is going to pay to see him flattened but his antics were demeaning to Grant last night and the ref should have told him to pack it in instead of laughing at him. Imagine Harry Gibb reffing that ? He would have chinned Whittaker himself for being so disrespectful

Sky have had their pants pulled down with Buatsi and Okolie. Hearn won’t be arsed one bit about losing them.

I think Buatsi will quit when the going gets tough at the highest level.

I agree, both are like watching paint dry

[KiwiRider]

Nice
The guy who looks two weight classes above his opponent toys with him. This is the reason why I don't like cats.

[Glass Joe]

well i never made it to the final bell

[Bodyshot3]

I don't watch a pile of boxing now - but made an effort - and sadly, I thought this was a poor show.
I was flipping channels and the best fight of the night was actually Denny.

Whittaker doing all the shite coming to the ring and then in the ring - and it was a humble six rounder - felt moronic.

I kind of get it - he's playing the villain, braggart like Naz - and needs to make a few quid and establish a following.
But it was hugely overdone and Whittaker got way, way too much of a build-up from Sky for a humble six-rounder.

Buatsi is a strange one. He's a bit like Okolie - an exciting banger when given a chance - but as boring as feck when he gets in with someone with a bit of a ticker or with a reasonable defence.

It feels like Sky have gone all-in for two guys who can smash-up come forward fighters- they think they've got Benn - but are deeply pedestrian and still learning when faced by anyone vaguely compontent.

Not a great night of boxing

[Ruthless-RKO]

I get the showboating..

I do.

But it was a bit too much if you ask me.

[margaret thatcher]

constant showboating vs such a low level of opposition is just lame, also whittaker looks like an especially big tool because it's obvious he's forcing it in some funny attempt to come across as edgy or cool

saunders staring into the crowd after a huge lemieux miss is taunting that is witty and well placed. or naz having swag vs world level challengers. whittakers antics vs f@king jordan grant are so pathetic i almost feel sorry for him that he thinks he should act that way

[handsofstone]

I gave Buatsi every round although there were a few close ones in there, very pedestrian performance, looked like he went in with a ln injured right hand because he only threw it sparingly and it would explain why it landed up a 10 rounder, he was happy to fight Stepien at same pace for 10 rounds, controlling things with the jab, clubbing shots to the body but no devil in his work, he's better than that, Stepien very conventional and didn't look a total can, he def could've nicked a round or 2 but it was a sparring session really with zero talking points, very forgettable, Buatsi needs to be going for guys above Richards and Bolotniks now, they were good scalps but Stepien a backwards step for sure

[tony1234]

I get the showboating..

I do.

But it was a bit too much if you ask me.

There is only one Prince Naseem, if you're going to do an act do something original

[ashall2]

That Whittaker thing is disrespectful to a hard-working boxer who probably has another job to make up his income and is instrumental to giving Whittaker a few learning rounds. Isn’t remotely funny or cool, just comes across a massive bellend.

Grant has another fight scheduled in 12 days I noticed.