Must say I am really looking forward to this British match up between Joshua Buatsi a talented fighter originally from Ghana whom I affectionately refer to as the Prince of Ghana and Dan Azeez a British fighter of Nigerian heritage who has won all the titles available to him so far. The guys are friends have a lot in common due to their west African heritage and both boys can fight. Who wins and who do I want to win. Well both are guys I route for and Buatsi was a top class prospect an Olympics medalist a Crown Prince born to be King who has is now being tutored by the great Virgil Hunter. When it comes to pedigree it’s clearly Buatsi. Azeez is a Cinderella fighter unheralded but come up doing everything demanded of him and getting better ready to put in on the line. This is effectively a world title eliminator as its number 1 vs number the winner will get the winner of undisputed when the Russian Kings Artur Beterbiev and King Dmitry Bivol. It’s particularly poignant this is happening when the African Cup of Nations is going on as Ghana vs Nigeria is one of the bitter football rivalries. You may expect me to predict a win for Azeez being a British Nigerian however as those of you who know me, know when it come to boxing I don’t **** around. In a great fight my prediction is the greater skill sets and pedigree of Joshua Buatsi wins the fight and he goes on to win the world title while Azeez goes on to beat Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde and get a world title shot. [url]Buatsi vs Azeez[/url]
Dunno about winning a world title but yes Buatsi despatches Azeez with relative ease. Watched the live gloves are off episode last night, Buatsi really never gives much away at all does he. Pretty much every answer is "you tell me" or "you'll have to wait and see"
I think I am hearing that narrative in some quarters but frankly not sure I buy it. The fact Buatsi left the UK to live and train with Hunter tells me a lot! Buatsi could already have fought for a world title but Hunter has purposely held him back because the target is not to fight for a world title like the other British light heavyweights but to win it against a great fighter like Bivol or Beterbiev.
I don't know who is going to win this fight. I haven't seen enough of Azeez, three times in total I think, or at least not seen him against anyone prime above domestic level so it's hard to gauge his real level. He's definitely a good well schooled fighter and I like his style and I'm very confident their styles will gel well together and that it's going to be yet another exciting British domestic dust up. I rated Buatsi highly when he turned over after watching him impress in the Olympics but, whilst he's a hard punching and talented fighter who could potentially go on to pick up a world with a bit of luck, I think he's too easy to hit and I don't think that bodes well for his chances against the elite of the division. Granted, Beterbiev is 39 y/o and is due to get old overnight anytime now and if Bivol loses to him it could be a real confidence destroying demoralizing loss because Beterbiev is nightmarish opponent to face. I see Yarde is fighting yet another tomato can next time out and he's trying to worm his way into a third title shot via facing the winner of Buatsi vs Azeez when the winner will be ranked #1 and very likely guaranteed a title shot in late 2024 or early-mid 2025 at the latest and Yarde is only talking about that because he knows that he will likely have to finally do something to earn a title shot this time given the next one will be his third one. That being said, they're talking about Yarde facing Callum Smith on the ReMatchroom vs Queensberry card now. But Yarde and Big Frank can get to the back of the queue regarding the winner of Buatsi vs Azeez, though. His best win is Lyndon Arthur who is fringe world class at best and he's 1-1 against and his second best win is who exactly? Two world title shots, the second of which in his backyard with the three belts on the line, and he hasn't beaten a single world class fighter and everyone he has beaten sans Arthur has been domestic level or domestic Euro level, the vast majority of them featherfists. He could've tried to earn his world title shots by beating the likes of Hot Rod, Marcus Browne, Bolotniks or a well past prime but still decent ex-champ like Padcal or any of his big domestic rivals like Buatsi, Callum Johnson, Craig Richards etc. who are fringe world level and dangerous instead of beating up on featherfisted Euro journeymen, E, F and G levels from Eastern Europe and South America with terrible records or terribly padded records.
Wouldn't shock me at all if Azeez wins. Buatsi hasn't developed much since turning pro and I think he'll struggle with Azeez's aggressive style. Buatsi looks good when he's allowed to dictate things and lead but when an opponents fights back he seems to lack the defensive skills and back foot boxing to win when on the backfoot. If he can't push Azeez back consistently I think the upset could very well be on. It will all depend on if Azeez can maintain his aggressive approach and keep Buatsi contained in a more defensive posture where he's vulnerable.
This is a real good fight. Nigeria vs Ghana, both undefeated, both in the top 5. One has hype, one is a Cinderella "team". Excited for this one.
A shame that a cancellation has really overshadowed this very good domestic dust up between two top 5 LHW's. I like Azeez a lot and I do hope he wins this fight, but I think it will be a fight where the boxer beats the brawler in a pretty wide Buatsi decision victory with Buatsi winning 9 to 3 rounds. Azeez's 90's style of old-school fighting which I genuinely admire, I think suits Buatsi and Buatsi will be comfortable enough to handle Azeez at long and mid range, enough to deal with Azeez's skills in short-range.
