Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Who wins?

Poll runs till 22 Feb 2025, 10:36

Smith - Decision
9
16%
Smith - T/KO
18
33%
DRAW
1
2%
Buatsi - T/KO
8
15%
Buatsi - Decision
19
35%
 
Total votes: 55

Ruthless-RKO
Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Callum isn’t bad.

This is just a domestic dust up for me.

Buats has been pro for nearly 10 years? Is that right??

Damn!
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Buatsi within ‘touching distance’ of title fight, but Smith warns the fire still burns

Joshua Buatsi knows he is close to a shot at the light heavyweight titles, but the Londoner is not taking his eyes off Callum Smith.

Buatsi, a 2016 Olympian, faces Liverpool veteran Smith in Saudi Arabia on February 22 but would be excused for having an eye on the main event between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, who meet in a rematch for the full set of 175lbs belts.

Buatsi has the WBO interim belt and wants to parlay victory over Smith into a fight with the winner of the bill-topper.

“I’m touching distance away,” he said at the London press conference to unveil the huge show. “I was asked to bring my interim belt, but I said ‘why would I do that when the real one is behind me?’ I’ve got to get Smith out of the way, that’s all I’m fixated on.”

Smith has faced questions before about his hunger, having won the super middleweight World Boxing Super Series in 2018 and lost heavily to Canelo Alvarez in 2020. Last year, Beterbiev brutally stopped him in seven rounds.

“The fire’s still there… I always set myself goals and I’ve been lucky through my career to achieve them all but I’ve set a goal of becoming a two-weight world champion and it’s still not done. That’s why I’m here. A win over Josh puts me one step closer to being there,” Smith said.

“Winning that belt puts me one step closer to where I want to be… I believe I’m good enough to get the job done,” he added. “I’ve got to make sure the best version of me shows up and I believe the best version of me beats Joshua Buatsi.”
stevec@france
Super Bantamweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by stevec@france »

my issue with Callum Smith is I just question if he is really tough enough to go through hard rounds and find ways to adapt and win - we have seen him dish it out and get the stoppage but always against lesser opponents or fading fighters .

When he says “ “I’ve got to make sure the best version of me shows up and I believe the best version of me beats Joshua Buatsi.”
It makes me think hmm its a bit of a ground prep for a loss ie he believes in himself but if the so called best version doesnt get in the ring well that is the excuse .

He said the same pre canelo and beterbiev and was soundly beaten - against canelo he was just trying to survive after the first half .

Frankly if he cant beat Buatsi then ride off into the sunset and let other fighters have a go .
Ruthless-RKO
Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Smith is one of those who has shit fights in-between good fights. so we don't really know where he is before he takes on a good competitor.
THEBUTCH
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Joined: 27 Jan 2004, 08:51

Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by THEBUTCH »

Ryder gave Smith all the trouble he could handle, Canelo give him a 12 round thumping and Beterbiev cut him down to size with the minimum of fuss.....however, Ryder was a world class battler and Canelo & Beterbiev are modern day greats.

For me, this is a fascinating encounter and could tell us a lot about both boxer's true worth :box:
tony1234
Cruiserweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by tony1234 »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 13 Jan 2025, 13:01 Callum isn’t bad.

This is just a domestic dust up for me.

Buats has been pro for nearly 10 years? Is that right??

Damn!
2017 and still at domestic level, very telling
forcefraser
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by forcefraser »

THEBUTCH wrote: 14 Jan 2025, 10:53 Ryder gave Smith all the trouble he could handle, Canelo give him a 12 round thumping and Beterbiev cut him down to size with the minimum of fuss.....however, Ryder was a world class battler and Canelo & Beterbiev are modern day greats.

For me, this is a fascinating encounter and could tell us a lot about both boxer's true worth :box:
Not many people gave that fight to Smith. The Gorilla was robbed
THEBUTCH
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by THEBUTCH »

Sure, it was a contentious win for Smith over Ryder.

Smith has also posted some good wins over good opposition and has also scored some explosive knockouts...my point is, it takes a very good boxer to beat Smith.
coneye
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by coneye »

Its a good fight ,a fair fight , similar levels , hopefully they both perform on the night
SeanBrennan
Super Flyweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by SeanBrennan »

I think Smith is shot and Buatsi comprehensively knocks him out.
tigermoth87
Lightweight
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Joined: 21 Feb 2016, 11:23

Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by tigermoth87 »

SeanBrennan wrote: 15 Jan 2025, 20:38 I think Smith is shot and Buatsi comprehensively knocks him out.
I think Smith is shot. But Buatsi is a domestic level bum with a padded record. Smith will beat him and then retire on a high.
THEBUTCH
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by THEBUTCH »

Smith isn't shot. He might be past his best but that's different to being "shot" in boxing terms.

Simply losing to Buatsi won't prove he's shot either. Buatsi is on the cusp of a world title crack and is a solid contender.

We need to see what sort of performance Callum turns in to judge whether he's finished at top level.

Certainly the timing favours Buatsi because he's somewhere near the top of his game and Smith has accumulated some mileage over the past few years.

Josh would never have taken the fight 2 years ago when it first was being proposed (see first page of this thread).
PredatorHayds
Super Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by PredatorHayds »

Buatsi has been managed terribly. They managed not to get him a title shot in his prime and IMO he’s slightly on the slide and we will never know how good he could have been. I thought he was good enough to pick up a world title without threatening to be the division number 1.
Ruthless-RKO
Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

PredatorHayds wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 08:41 Buatsi has been managed terribly. They managed not to get him a title shot in his prime and IMO he’s slightly on the slide and we will never know how good he could have been. I thought he was good enough to pick up a world title without threatening to be the division number 1.
Considering who the LHW champions were?

maybe Joe Smith? Who else was champion whilst he could have had a go?
mickey1975
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by mickey1975 »

His career only really got going when he left 258 management.
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

mickey1975 wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:20 His career only really got going when he left 258 management.
What's he done since?
mickey1975
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by mickey1975 »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:45
mickey1975 wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:20 His career only really got going when he left 258 management.
What's he done since?
He headlined a local derby at Wembley Arena, fought Riyadh season at Wembley Stadium and is boxing for the interim in Saudi next month.
Twinkle Toes
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Twinkle Toes »

Favouring Buatsi here. Smith could be a handful but I think his best days are behind him.

On saying that Buatsi has been made to work against fellow domestic operators and even though he has come through them tests it's maybe shown his level.

A good fight though, it's intriguing to see what Smith has left.
Ruthless-RKO
Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

mickey1975 wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:50
Ruthless-RKO wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:45
mickey1975 wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 09:20 His career only really got going when he left 258 management.
What's he done since?
He headlined a local derby at Wembley Arena, fought Riyadh season at Wembley Stadium and is boxing for the interim in Saudi next month.
Not bad.

Before that he was just stuck fighting fringe level.

Did he win the Euro?
MightyWarrior
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by MightyWarrior »

Josh the definite favourite here. I just hope Callum is up for this and not going to turn in a cash out performance like his brother Paul and Liam’s last fights.
TheLeprechaun
Super Welterweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by TheLeprechaun »

The Canelo fight was shameful
Ruthless-RKO
Lightweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

TheLeprechaun wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 16:22 The Canelo fight was shameful
People give him shit got the Canelo fight.

But that was masterclass from Canelo and very clever.

He literally targeted Cal’s arms.. to the stage he had bruising. He couldn’t even lift his arms after the fight.
TheLeprechaun
Super Welterweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by TheLeprechaun »

I just saw a guy going into survival mode from very early on into the fight and not even trying to win. Took the payday and ran.
SeanBrennan
Super Flyweight
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by SeanBrennan »

tigermoth87 wrote: 16 Jan 2025, 01:57
SeanBrennan wrote: 15 Jan 2025, 20:38 I think Smith is shot and Buatsi comprehensively knocks him out.
I think Smith is shot. But Buatsi is a domestic level bum with a padded record. Smith will beat him and then retire on a high.
We shall see if Smith is shot, I hope I am wrong and it is a really good fight. Saying Buatsi is a bum though is just silly, he is twice amateur English champ, an Olympic medallist which he won along with European medals whilst achieving a degree, has won British and Commonwealth titles as a pro, and currently holds an interim world belt, is undefeated, and has been in 10 title fights. I would like to see him fight more often but he is still only 31 and the Smith fight is a very good fight. I know the forum is a collection of opinions but some of the people on here do make me chuckle. I really do not know how you could conclude he is a bum. What do you for a living and what are your achievements in life to date? He has also paid for people's medicals and licenses who were struggling as pros, which is the measure in my eyes of someone who is not a bum.
SeanBrennan
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Re: Callum Smith vs. Joshua Buatsi | PPV - 22 February 2025

Post by SeanBrennan »

Ruthless-RKO wrote: 13 Jan 2025, 13:01 Callum isn’t bad.

This is just a domestic dust up for me.

Buats has been pro for nearly 10 years? Is that right??

Damn!
7.5 years a pro,
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