Buatsi vs. Azeez:
Boxxer had a difficult year in 2023. But not as some will try to convince you, a disastrous one. A year of injuries and the subsequent inevitable delays and postponements of major fights stalled the development and progress that Boxxer had made the previous year. Undoubtedly, there were mistakes and expensive ones at that, but that same accusation can be labelled elsewhere. You rarely find balance in how boxing is reported.
Things take time. The Boxxer relationship with Sky has been questioned and harshly critiqued at times, unfairly so in this observer's humble opinion. Some of the online comments certainly don't remember, or they want you to forget what the early days of the Matchroom/Sky partnership were really like. Compare the two relationships at this very same stage. Some might be surprised at what they find.
2024 is unquestionably a pivotal year for Boxxer and Sky. You sense all parties know the importance of it. But this is the year where Ben Shalom can and should see his stable really start to flourish. Shalom and Sky made some big high-profile signings with an eye on the future when they launched their fledgling partnership in 2021, and this should be the year that they start to see and get their rewards from that initial hefty financial investment.
The year has already started well for Boxxer. Last month, their fighting calendar began and already it has a fight of the year contender. Natasha Jonas edged past the American Mikaela Mayer in a fight that those lucky enough to see it live or viewed on their TV screens will not easily forget. Their second 2024 offering this Saturday night at that old iconic Wembley Arena will be a real sign of intent.
The headline fight this weekend is that rare delight. A genuine 50/50 fight that has domestic titles, local bragging rights and real-world title implications on the line. Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez will trade blows and put their 'friendship' aside in the hope that victory comes and pushes them another step closer to a shot at the world light-heavyweight title. However, a certain flashy upstart who will fight an hour or so before them will have more than one eye on the winner.
Azeez is a quite wonderful Boxxer success story. Away from the glitz and the glamour of other more prominent signings, including his opponent on Saturday night, Azeez has quietly turned around his career in some style and a win over Buatsi will push his career to another dimension. A serious back injury delayed the fight from last year, and I do wonder if the rescheduled fight has come a little too soon for him. The fight may have a touch of the Liam Smith narrative around it.
Buatsi, the high-profile Boxxer signing from last year, needs not only a win but that victory needs to come with some kind of razzmatazz. His career can ill afford an uninspiring laboured disputed points win, let alone a first career defeat. The manner of any victory will tell us plenty if all the ongoing legal issues between his old and new promotional friends are worth it. The former Olympian is a class act, but his career has flattered to deceive somewhat despite being unbeaten in seventeen fights as a professional. Saturday night would be a very good place to start delivering a little bit more.
Buatsi and Azeez is a proper trade fight. And it will be a very good fight. Certainly a much better fight than the one that is happening at roughly the same time elsewhere in the boxing world. A fight that is more than a touch cynical. Some would use much stronger words. Sin City indeed.
But lower down the card is probably where Boxxer will be pinning their hopes for the coming years. Adam Azim, Ben Whittaker, and Caroline Dubois all feature on the undercard. All three are tipped to be future superstars. The new stars of their sport. All the shiny plaudits and the sizable financial investment don't look out of place. Saturday night will be a showcase for Azim, Whittaker, and Dubois. It is also a very good indication of how and where the Sky/Boxxer relationship will develop over the next few years. It could even hinge on the three blue-chip fighters. Shalom is tipping all three to be future PPV stars. To be that, they need to dazzle and not just win. Make no mistake, they all have that type of potential.
Boxxer will hope they can avoid the injury curse that so badly hampered them last year. With a little luck in that department, they should be just fine going forward. The recent hook-up with Peacock in America will give them a big platform over there. Expect that relationship to help their product significantly in the coming years. A couple more quality signings to increase the depth of their stable certainly wouldn't hurt. But, regardless, some of the online 'experts' who are predicting the demise of the new kid on the boxing block may be left disappointed in 2024.
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM LONDON
WBA World Light Heavyweight Title Final Eliminator and British & Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Championships – 12 Rounds
Joshua Buatsi – 12st 6lbs / 174lbs
Dan Azeez – 12st 4lbs 5oz / 172.3lbs
European Super Lightweight Championship – 12 Rounds
Adam Azim – 10st / 140lbs
Enock Poulsen – 9st 13lbs 5oz / 139.5lbs
Light Heavyweight Contest - 8 Rounds
Ben Whittaker – 12st 7lbs 5oz / 175.5lbs
Khalid Graidia – 12st 8lbs / 176lbs
IBO World Lightweight Championship – 10 (x2min) Rounds
Caroline Dubois – 9st 8lbs 5oz / 134.5lbs
Miranda Reyes – 9st 8lbs / 134lbs
Heavyweight Contest – 6 Rounds
Jeamie TKV – 18st 11lbs 5oz / 263lbs
Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko – 18st 3lbs / 255lbs
Bantamweight Contest – 6 (x2min) Rounds
Francesca Hennessy – 8st 10lbs 5oz / 125.5lbs
Lauren Belen Valdebenito – 8st 13lbs / 125lbs
A decade-long friendship will be put to one side when Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez meet in a mouth-watering clash at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Saturday, February 3rd. Although both fighters started their journey at the same South London amateur boxing club, two very different paths have set them on a collision course. Now in their prime, both men, ranked #1 and #2 in the world with the WBA, are ready to put it all on the line for bragging rights and a shot at world honours.
Watch live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30pm with undercard action available on Sky Sports Boxing YouTube channel from 6:30pm.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
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