Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez | Sky Sports - 3 February 2024

[Frostieballs]

I know I ask this all the time and it's annoying - but what do you guys think they'll be getting paid for this?

The big money is PPV, good domestic fight, top of the bill but little interest outside the hard core, neither sell a lot of tickets, DAZN pay much more than SKY, I reckon they will share 75k, minus expenses

Pure guesswork on my part but i was thinking 100k each give or take

I’d think around double that, particularly for Buatsi. Lot on the line and Boxxer have thrown a bit of cash around to get signings.

[SeanBrennan]

The big money is PPV, good domestic fight, top of the bill but little interest outside the hard core, neither sell a lot of tickets, DAZN pay much more than SKY, I reckon they will share 75k, minus expenses

Pure guesswork on my part but i was thinking 100k each give or take

I’d think around double that, particularly for Buatsi. Lot on the line and Boxxer have thrown a bit of cash around to get signings.

Likely, they've paid the Olympians silly money haven't they.

[Coco]

Pure guesswork on my part but i was thinking 100k each give or take

I’d think around double that, particularly for Buatsi. Lot on the line and Boxxer have thrown a bit of cash around to get signings.

Likely, they've paid the Olympians silly money haven't they.

So they haven't got much left, there are budgets to keep to, DAZN fighters got overpaid, that is being cut back on as well

[maverick23]

I’d think around double that, particularly for Buatsi. Lot on the line and Boxxer have thrown a bit of cash around to get signings.

Likely, they've paid the Olympians silly money haven't they.

So they haven't got much left, there are budgets to keep to, DAZN fighters got overpaid, that is being cut back on as well

Buatsi turned down £1m+ to fight Bivol. He’s not fighting Azeez for £50k. He’ll be on low 6 figures I’d imagine.

[jwfg]

I'm really struggling to pick a winner

Azeez is about as live an underdog as you can get.

Dan has been brought along beautifully and has ticked all the boxes enroute.

Buatsi must know he will need to bring his absolute A-game. He simply won't get away with a sub-standard performance this time.

I just don't think Buatsi will be mentally right.

[SeanBrennan]

interesting interviews with both in this week's BN. Azeez seems very relaxed, has been doing Angolan dance classes for agility and seeing a sports psychologist who trains at their gym. Butasi seems more....tense.

[Frostieballs]

I genuinely can't split them.

Buatsi seems (or seemed) to have the talent to go far, but Azeez has achieved more despite having to do it the hard way.

It is a genuine 50/50 fight, so on that basis I am betting on Azeez as he is 3/1 against.

[Oiky]

Azeez bang up for it

[samwbr]

I genuinely can't split them.

Buatsi seems (or seemed) to have the talent to go far, but Azeez has achieved more despite having to do it the hard way.

It is a genuine 50/50 fight, so on that basis I am betting on Azeez as he is 3/1 against.

10 and 5s for KO/TKO

[skanksta]

I genuinely can't split them.

Buatsi seems (or seemed) to have the talent to go far, but Azeez has achieved more despite having to do it the hard way.

It is a genuine 50/50 fight, so on that basis I am betting on Azeez as he is 3/1 against.

Don't you have the nagging doubt that Buatsi is a level or two better than Dan ?

Everyone likes Dan - he's a likeable guy-next-door type with a style to match, while Buatsi is a prickly, talented aloof. god-botherer - Aren't you calling it a 50/50 because you want it to be so..?

[MightyWarrior]

This one was called off with just a few days to go last year, wasn’t it?

[Frostieballs]

I genuinely can't split them.

Buatsi seems (or seemed) to have the talent to go far, but Azeez has achieved more despite having to do it the hard way.

It is a genuine 50/50 fight, so on that basis I am betting on Azeez as he is 3/1 against.

Don't you have the nagging doubt that Buatsi is a level or two better than Dan ?

Everyone likes Dan - he's a likeable guy-next-door type with a style to match, while Buatsi is a prickly, talented aloof. god-botherer - Aren't you calling it a 50/50 because you want it to be so..?

Maybe mate.

But then I think that Dan has actually gone out and won championships.

Who has beaten the better opposition? Genuine question….

[TheGun13]

I think Buatsi is the right favourite, but he’s too short a price in the betting. I’d make it something like 60/40 in his favour rather than the 80/20 some bookies have got it.

Buatsi is undoubtedly the more cultured offensive fighter, and if he can keep Azeez off he wins. However, I don’t think he’s great defensively and he gets caught quite a lot coming in, which coupled with his questionable stamina could be a recipe for disaster vs the relentless pressure of Azeez.

There’s definitely a chance Buatsi puts on a clinic and wins wide on points or via late stoppage, but I’m hopeful of a war and fight of the year contender.

[MightyWarrior]

Hugely impressed by JB in the amateurs, with that knockout punch of his. Have to admit I’ve not watched a lot of his fights of late, because of his underwhelming career - and Dan I’ve seen a few times and not massively impressed, but like everyone else I
assume, wouldn’t be surprised to see him pull the upset tonight.
JB has the class and the punch, but think he’s going to have to stop Azeez to win this, because not sure he can match that work rate

[jwfg]

Jeamie Tshikeva could well pick up another loss tonight. Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko was robbed against Tom Schwartz last time out,

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!!

[The Gratest]

Looking forward to this one
I initially went for Azeez but now think that Buatsi will nick it, although wouldn't rule out a draw.
I currently have a fence post up my arse.

[tony1234]

Fight Night!!

A couple of decent fights tonight on the show so looking forward to it

[cpx2]

I think Buatsi is the right favourite, but he’s too short a price in the betting. I’d make it something like 60/40 in his favour rather than the 80/20 some bookies have got it.

Buatsi is undoubtedly the more cultured offensive fighter, and if he can keep Azeez off he wins. However, I don’t think he’s great defensively and he gets caught quite a lot coming in, which coupled with his questionable stamina could be a recipe for disaster vs the relentless pressure of Azeez.

There’s definitely a chance Buatsi puts on a clinic and wins wide on points or via late stoppage, but I’m hopeful of a war and fight of the year contender.

Agree with all of this. Azeez will have his success I think, would be very surprised if it was absolutely dominant, but I think Buatsi will do enough to win decently comfortably. Azeez didn't look great at the weigh in (not necessarily the weight, he was light against Fielding, but just looked very drawn).

[cpx2]

Jeamie Tshikeva could well pick up another loss tonight. Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko was robbed against Tom Schwartz last time out,

Good comeback fight to take to be fair to them.

[jwfg]

Jeamie Tshikeva could well pick up another loss tonight. Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko was robbed against Tom Schwartz last time out,

Good comeback fight to take to be fair to them.

Bad matchmaking if the goal is a TKV win. This is a potential banana skin IMO.

[THEBUTCH]

If Buatsi can't hurt Azeez and put a halt to Dan trundling in, then Joshua may have problems tonight.

It's still too tight to call

[SeanBrennan]

I adopt a scientific approach to who I back. I am supporting Azeez as he mentioned in this week's BN that he's just got 2 cats.
War Azeez!

Anyone know why the EBU belt is not on line? Saving on sanctioning fees, EBU opposition or vacated?

[SeanBrennan]

good start to undercard, already 10 mins late

[skanksta]

I genuinely can't split them.

Buatsi seems (or seemed) to have the talent to go far, but Azeez has achieved more despite having to do it the hard way.

It is a genuine 50/50 fight, so on that basis I am betting on Azeez as he is 3/1 against.

Don't you have the nagging doubt that Buatsi is a level or two better than Dan ?

Everyone likes Dan - he's a likeable guy-next-door type with a style to match, while Buatsi is a prickly, talented aloof. god-botherer - Aren't you calling it a 50/50 because you want it to be so..?

Maybe mate.

But then I think that Dan has actually gone out and won championships.

Who has beaten the better opposition? Genuine question….

Buatsi.
Dan's best win is probably Pitters (Faure/Fielding).
Admittedly it's not super different in what they've done, but the main knock against Buatsi in all the previews seems to be that he hasn't won a WT belt yet !

That's what I mean about levels - people would love to see Dan win a belt but can't see it, with Buatsi it's like "he's rubbish or else he woulda won a WT belt already..."