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

[SeanBrennan]

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?

No, Azeez won it two fights before fighting Buatsi but must have vacated it as it was not on the line when they fought, only the British and CW titles were up for grabs then.

[TheLeprechaun]

Buatsi is disappointing in the sense that he was hyped up but his last few performances have been very average and he's been exposed as a bang average fighter. It should still be enough to beat a Callum Smith but he's not as good as he was made out to be early on. He's around Jesse Hart level.

[mickey1975]

Buatsi is disappointing in the sense that he was hyped up but his last few performances have been very average and he's been exposed as a bang average fighter. It should still be enough to beat a Callum Smith but he's not as good as he was made out to be early on. He's around Jesse Hart level.

Top 10 in the world is not bang average.

[keithmoonhangover]

Buatsi is disappointing in the sense that he was hyped up but his last few performances have been very average and he's been exposed as a bang average fighter. It should still be enough to beat a Callum Smith but he's not as good as he was made out to be early on. He's around Jesse Hart level.

Top 10 in the world is not bang average.

Yeah. There are 17,013 active light heavyweights, so the average would be somewhere in the middle of there. Definitely not top 10. Some people's expectations are too high.

[cormack]

Buatsi is disappointing in the sense that he was hyped up but his last few performances have been very average and he's been exposed as a bang average fighter. It should still be enough to beat a Callum Smith but he's not as good as he was made out to be early on. He's around Jesse Hart level.

Top 10 in the world is not bang average.

Yeah. There are 17,013 active light heavyweights, so the average would be somewhere in the middle of there. Definitely not top 10. Some people's expectations are too high.

its a head scratcher for me that buatsi is so highly ranked yet his most notable opponents have been domestic -Azeez for example .
at least smith has been in title fights and has had about a third more fights in his career .

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight week!!

[MightyWarrior]

This is a hell of a fight for an undercard.

Got to be Joseph Buatsi to get the win here.

Should be another tough one, because Callum Smith is a right handful for anybody, except for the very very best, but definitely on the wrong side of the hill you’d say.

He flatters to deceive sometimes, but Joseph Buatsi looks an out n out winner, and I’m pretty sure he gets a world title belt this year, a vacant one maybe ( interim?? whatever the hell that means ) . . First up Saturday night, and I hope he finally gets that statement win

[Ruthless-RKO]

This is a hell of a fight for an undercard.

Got to be Joseph Buatsi to get the win here.

Should be another tough one, because Callum Smith is a right handful for anybody, except for the very very best, but definitely on the wrong side of the hill you’d say.

He flatters to deceive sometimes, but Joseph Buatsi looks an out n out winner, and I’m pretty sure he gets a world title belt this year, a vacant one maybe ( interim?? whatever the hell that means ) . . First up Saturday night, and I hope he finally gets that statement win

This fight is for interim WBO belt. So if Bivol or Beterbiev vacate the belts, then the winner will become full champion.

In this case I don’t mind. Beating Smith isn’t a bad way to win a title at all compared to what many have done.

[Oiky]

Has callum smith got one more big night in him? Maybe, it'll be close, but it's buatsi for me to do the job

[TheLeprechaun]

Callum will be living in his high guard. Buatsi has shown a lack of confidence in some fights but he grinds out decisions. He is fighting to win a decision in many recent fights. I think both guys have shown a lack of confidence under pressure. Smith was also given one of the biggest gifts in boxing when he got that Ryder decision. I have to say that I never rated Smith. Too basic. Buatsi fights like he got sparked in sparring at some point and lost confidence. It could be a close fight, only because I lost confidence in Buatsi as a fighter. If he actually turns up, digs to the body, bosses the fight, then I don't think Smith has a chance but the Buatsi I've seen lately has lacked confidence and gone out there to win decisions.

[THEBUTCH]

Ruthless-RKO, are you able to re-open the voting options ???

It doesn't seem to be open to switching votes like usual.

I think a lot of posters will have changed their mind from when this fight was first mooted over 2 years ago.

It's currently at 26 to 22 votes for Smith. I reckon Buatsi will be a firm favourite now.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ruthless-RKO, are you able to re-open the voting options ???

It doesn't seem to be open to switching votes like usual.

I think a lot of posters will have changed their mind from when this fight was first mooted over 2 years ago.

It's currently at 26 to 22 votes for Smith. I reckon Buatsi will be a firm favourite now.

Yh open
Now

[THEBUTCH]

Cheers dude

[cormack]

I voted for smith over the 12 and am sticking to that .
Pretty much last chance saloon for callum at this level so he must be bang on for the entire fight .
Buatsi decent but hasnt fought at this level before and if he loses can still work his way in again .

[tony1234]

Just looked on Virgin and they're showing the TNT Box Office coverage and this is slated to be first of the main fights with the ring walk at 445pm.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Just looked on Virgin and they're showing the TNT Box Office coverage and this is slated to be first of the main fights with the ring walk at 445pm.

I thought Zhang-Kabayel would go first.

Bradley Rhea will be on very first though. Probably before PPV.

I’m gonna get the running order soon, so will know for sure.

[mickey1975]

Just looked on Virgin and they're showing the TNT Box Office coverage and this is slated to be first of the main fights with the ring walk at 445pm.

I thought Zhang-Kabayel would go first.

Bradley Rhea will be on very first though. Probably before PPV.

I’m gonna get the running order soon, so will know for sure.

I thought Rea was off the card.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Just looked on Virgin and they're showing the TNT Box Office coverage and this is slated to be first of the main fights with the ring walk at 445pm.

I thought Zhang-Kabayel would go first.

Bradley Rhea will be on very first though. Probably before PPV.

I’m gonna get the running order soon, so will know for sure.

I thought Rea was off the card.

Was he? When did you hear?

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/live-b ... eblog-body

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Taansend]

They both look a decade older than their actual age.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[MightyWarrior]

Smith looking good on the scales, he could have a lot left, a real danger man

Josh looking a bit drained and grey but not too bad

[Kilburn]

Yeah Smith looks it great shape.

[Ruthless-RKO]

A wide card but many will agree the right man won