BoxRec

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 09:49 Yarde isn't a genuine superstar at all. Nowhere near.

for a superstar , yarde sure loves himself some undercard action

stevec@france wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 12:04 should the question be " who cares "

after watching bert v biv last weekend it kind of puts these guys on a lower level

Doesn’t mean it’s not still a fight people want to see.

Yet another British fight that everybody has been dying to see for years that will never happen due in part to the unrealistic demands of the delusional fighters

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 17:39 Yet another British fight that everybody has been dying to see for years that will never happen due in part to the unrealistic demands of the delusional fighters

It will happen.

It would be great if we could see, in quick succession...

Benavidez v Morrell
Buatsi v Yarde
Beterbiev v Bivol II
Whittaker v Cameron II

Winners go into one group, losers the other

Taansend wrote: ↑18 Oct 2024, 01:40 It would be great if we could see, in quick succession...

Benavidez v Morrell
Buatsi v Yarde
Beterbiev v Bivol II
Whittaker v Cameron II

Winners go into one group, losers the other

Think Whittaker is still a a few flights off that level even if he was to win. Better off with Smith and someone like Ramirez.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 17:57

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑17 Oct 2024, 17:39 Yet another British fight that everybody has been dying to see for years that will never happen due in part to the unrealistic demands of the delusional fighters

It will happen.

For sure. One of the biggest obstacles is out the way (promotion)

I don't think this should be on a Riyadh Season card, but if it has to be, then fair enough.

Can easily headline it's own card here in UK and Sky need this headline card. Not a PPV at all, but would be a big fight, that they can really promote and get behind.

joshj909 wrote: ↑18 Oct 2024, 02:25

Taansend wrote: ↑18 Oct 2024, 01:40 It would be great if we could see, in quick succession...

Benavidez v Morrell
Buatsi v Yarde
Beterbiev v Bivol II
Whittaker v Cameron II

Winners go into one group, losers the other

Think Whittaker is still a a few flights off that level even if he was to win. Better off with Smith and someone like Ramirez.

I was just fornicating about by adding Whittaker Cameron II. I'm not sure when we'll see Ben out again, let alone rematching Liam.

But I hope we see the other three bouts by Spring next year.

JOSHUA BUATSI ON ANTHONY YARDE: 'I CAN'T RETIRE WITHOUT FIGHTING HIM'

Joshua Buatsi went from being on the brink of challenging for a world title to needing to rebuild.

Callum Smith, his most recent opponent, was the most recognizable and the most accomplished fighter the Londoner has ever faced. During their February showdown, Buatsi proved that he belonged with the big boys. However, Smith had a bit too much in the tank on that particular night, winning by unanimous decision.

Had he won, Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) would’ve been camped right outside the door of Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez, demanding a fight. But his defeat to Smith changes everything.

At 32, Buatsi doesn't have much time to waste. His team will take a long look through the light heavyweight rankings before making their next move. Although he’s enjoyed taking on some of the best at 175 pounds, he now comes across as a man who may target lower-level names to get back on track.

“For me, it’s about getting back to winning ways, to see who I have to fight next,” Buatsi told The Stomping Ground during a recent interview.

Those same opportunities that Buatsi was looking forward to will now fall onto the lap of Smith. He doesn’t believe a complete teardown and rebuild will be necessary, but a small cleanup is the path he’s on.

Once he jumps back into the winner’s circle, Buatsi would love to entertain a showdown with highly ranked contender Anthony Yarde.

The two may reside in the England's capital, but in terms of a friendship, there doesn't appear to be any.

When it comes to fighting, Yarde is always open to taking on the best. So when the time comes, Buatsi is hoping that their conversations will result in a verbal agreement and fight date.

Retirement isn’t at the forefront of Buatsi’s mind. It isn’t in the back, either. He has a ton of time left in the sport and is looking forward to continuing his career. When that day does come and he does decide to walk away from the game, he’ll be kickng himself if a fight with rival Yarde doesn't materialize.

“The Anthony Yarde fight, I can’t retire saying I never fought that guy from East London.”

I hope Buatsi leaves Virgil Hunter. Totally the wrong style for him. He’s never impressed me as a trainer outside of his work with Andre Ward, who would probably have succeeded under any decent trainer anyway.

Manchester Hitman wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025, 05:45 I hope Buatsi leaves Virgil Hunter. Totally the wrong style for him. He’s never impressed me as a trainer outside of his work with Andre Ward, who would probably have succeeded under any decent trainer anyway.

Agreed he'd do well at the Kronk. Miss Manny Steward he would have done good things with Buatsi.

I've started new poll as other one was 6 years old.. from when the thread began..

a lot has happened since then..

Anthony Yarde’s trainer and manager ‘wants’ overdue fight with Joshua Buatsi

Anthony Yarde’s trainer and manager Babatunde Ajayi is targeting a fight with Joshua Buatsi.

Yarde in November was stopped by David Benavidez, contributing to speculation that he will move up to cruiserweight, and while Ajayi continues to believe that he remains destined for the cruiserweight division he is adamant that a contest between London’s two leading light heavyweights needs to be made.


The 34-year-old Yarde’s return from Dubai has been delayed by the unrest that exists in the Middle East and, until he returns to the English capital, Ajayi will delay speaking to him about his future.

He is, however, certain that Yarde “wants” to finally fight Buatsi – a stadium contest between them had seemed likely in the summer of 2024 – and also doesn’t expect Yarde to want a tune-up opponent upon his return to the ring.

“It’s a fight I’ve always wanted to see, and a fight I still feel has to get made,” Ajayi told Boxing Scene. “It’s one of those Kell Brook-Amir Khan situations, where the people aren’t gonna be satisfied until they see that fight. Especially, that fight, will sell out Wembley [Arena]. There’s no other contest that people wanna see in the UK than that fight. It’s still a massive, massive, massive fight. If we can put a title at the end of it that’d be the icing on the cake but it’s a fight I’ve always wanted to see; a fight both boys are at the prime stages of their career where they should fight.

“I know Ant would want it. I know Joshua would want it. Great fighters. Great for British boxing.

“Ant’s at a stage, he’s a golden fighter, isn’t he? Can you ever see Ant, at this stage of his career, taking tune-ups? But ultimately Ant has always been the boss, so he makes the final decision. I’m always there to back and support him, so we’ll see.

“He’s always training. He’s been a pro for 10 years now, so he knows the sport; he always keeps himself in shape; he doesn’t drink; he doesn’t smoke. So it’s just about getting himself back in fighting mode, mentally. Give him another six weeks in the gym, he’s ready.”

Buatsi, 32, earlier in November struggled to convince in a majority decision victory over Zach Parker. His promoter allegedly spoke after Benavidez-Yarde of his potential interest in reviving a fight between them, and to that end, Ajayi explained that Yarde’s appearance in the WBA cruiserweight rankings doesn’t necessarily indicate that that will be his next move.

“When he comes back, we’ll see where he is and make a decision,” he said. “I’ve said it from the beginning of his career – he’s been a cruiserweight from the beginning of his career. It’s just total discipline that has allowed him to campaign at light heavy. But he’s getting older; he’s not getting any younger, and maybe within himself he feels that it’s just taking more out of him making the weight. I’ve got no qualms about Ant moving up to cruiserweight because as I said, at the beginning of his career, he’s a cruiserweight.

“It’s very hard to say anything unless Ant’s in front of you. When Ant’s in front of you he’ll make the decision.”

Ajayi was also asked about his welterweight Joel Kodua, the reigning English champion, and revealed that he expects Kodua to step up in class on the undercard of Adam Azim’s next fight in May, given that he had been on course to fight Conor Benn’s former opponent Peter Dobson earlier in March.

“It’s gonna be a good opponent,” he said. “He was going to fight Peter Dobson. That would have been a big step up, internationally, for Joel, but that wasn’t to be, so we’re just waiting for an announcement – maybe May, end of May, [with] Adam Azim topping the bill at Wembley [Arena].”

He's seriously overestimating the call for Yarde v Buatsi.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑09 Mar 2026, 09:59 He's seriously overestimating the call for Yarde v Buatsi.

He just wants to get paid.. stealing a living.