Joshua Buatsi exceeded all expectation as he claimed a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and has since made light work of his 15 opponents in the pro ranks, but London rival Craig Richards believes the success has gone to his imminent opponent’s head – and predicts that will now contribute to his downfall.
‘You believe you’re something special,’ Richards told Buatsi as they met for their face-off ahead of the eagerly-anticipated light-heavyweight domestic clash on Saturday night. ‘If you don’t believe you’re something special, what are you doing, bro?’ Buatsi responded.
Two statements that perhaps perfectly encapsulate the differing journeys the two south Londoners have undertaken in their careers: Buatsi, an accomplished amateur, was picked to represent Team GB at the Olympics and has since been regarded a future Matchroom golden goose; Richards, often an underdog, has instead had to bulldoze his way into contention.
Craig Richards (R) takes on London rival Joshua Buatsi (L) at the O2 Arena on Saturday night
Unbeaten Buatsi defeated Richards in the amateurs and comes into the fight as favourite
For Richards, all that means is that he comes into their O2 Arena clash the better prepared. It’s he who has been through the hard fights, who has overcome the reality check after coming in overconfident, and who has tasted the bitterness of defeat.
And on Saturday night, according to Richards, anyway, Buatsi’s unrelenting and currently unmerited confidence will contribute to his demise.
‘Sometimes I feel he thinks he’s invincible, feels he can’t be hurt, thinks he’s levels above, and I think these are things that could lead to his downfall in the ring,’ Richards told Sportsmail.
‘When you’re overconfident or you think you’re too tough – I’ve been there, I remember when I boxed [Andre] Sterling, I’d just knocked out Jake Ball in three rounds, dropped him in every round, a former GB boy, a southpaw, big puncher – I was thinking, ‘What are you going to bring to the table?’.
‘I beat him unanimously, but I didn’t perform my best, and I think that’s because when you start feeling yourself a bit, you don’t get the best out of yourself, you can make errors.
‘It brought me back to earth, to focusing, to the drawing board. He’s at the stage where he really feels himself right now, so that could be his downfall.’
Richards admits he came into his bout against Andre Sterling (R) complacent after destroying Jake Ball (L)
Olympian Buatsi is supremely confident having won all 15 of his pro fights without trouble
Richards, taking some time out of his hectic fight week schedule, is keen to stress there is no resentment towards his fellow south Londoner, however.
Indeed, Buatsi – who beat Richards in the amateurs – has been taken under the wing of Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua, but it’s Richards who has fought for a world title, falling marginally short against now pound-for-pound star Dmitry Bivol.
And while Buatsi went past seven rounds for the first time in his career in his most recent victory over Ricards Bolotniks – who then had five defeats on his 24-fight record – Richards, albeit losing to Frank Buglioni in a fight he took on less than a weeks’ notice in 2017, also holds a number of solid domestic wins.
Richards insists the disparity in professional experience will play into his hands come fight night.
‘The experience is definitely going to put me in good stead, give me the edge in the fight,’ he said. ‘The experience is going to play a part on my side, which is good for me. I don’t resent him at all.
‘As I said to him even in the face-off, I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve what he’s got, but he has had what he’s had. He hasn’t had the hard fights.
Richards believes that his tougher route to the top will give him an advantage over Buatsi
‘Spider’ says he doesn’t resent Buatsi for the opportunities he’s been given since the Olympics
‘I get it, he was an Olympian – he earned his way to an easier route. But the fact is that he’s had an easier route and that’s all I was saying to him, not that I resent him.
‘You get what you deserve, what you put in. He put a lot in during the amateurs and he got a lot out. For me, I’ve done things another way and it’s gained me experience, so when I box at this level, I’ve got the experience.
‘We haven’t seen him step up, we haven’t seen him in with a level of opponent like myself, who brings things to the table. We’ll soon find out if he’s ready for this level or not.’
Despite his inferior level of experience as a professional, it’s Buatsi who comes into the fight as the overwhelming favourite among the bookies.
The public perception has certainly changed in recent weeks, though, after Bivol put in a performance for the ages to defeat the sport’s previously undoubted No 1 Canelo Alvarez with a masterful display in New York.
Canelo was outfought and, frankly, outclassed as the Russian claimed a one-sided victory, a win significantly more convincing than his 2021 triumph over Richards.
Spider, who bounced back with a sixth-round stoppage win over Poland’s Marek Matyja after falling to a narrow points defeat to Bivol, admits it has been pleasing to finally receive some recognition for his performance – though it’s another crack at Bivol’s WBA (Super) light-heavyweight title he really wants.
Richards was highly competitive in his narrow points defeat to Russian Dmitry Bivol last year
The Brit’s display looks even better since Bivol battered pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez
Richards has since bounced back with a stoppage win over Marek Matyja at the O2 Arena
‘It was good that people gave me credit finally because it was at first frustrating,’ he said. ‘Before I boxed him, he was one of the best pound-for-pound fighters, I was going to get knocked out in three or four rounds.
‘Then I had the fight I had with him, and everyone was like, ‘Oh, Bivol must not be as good as we thought’, not like, ‘Craig is better than we thought’.
‘Him beating a pound-for-pound fighter, you can’t discredit him, so people are realising, ‘Oh, Bivol is good, so Craig must be good’.’
He continued: ‘Of course [I want the rematch]. He’s got a world title; I want his belt. I came to this sport to become world champion and that’s the aim. It’s also good if you can avenge a loss, at the same time as becoming a world champion.
‘I came off a round short against Bivol. I started the back-half so strong, but if I’d started earlier in the fight then I’d be sitting here as the world champion, maybe the guy who just beat Canelo – who knows.
‘It would’ve been a different story, but I’m not here to worry about what could’ve been, I’m here to take these experiences, learn and progress in my career.’
For Saturday night’s winner, there are plenty of options ahead. There is competition galore in the domestic scene, with the likes of Lyndon Arthur, Callum Johnson and Dan Azeez all viable opponents.
As are two world-level options in Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde, the latter of which is gunning for a bout against the winner of the unification bout between Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith Jr in June.
Light-heavyweights Artur Beterbiev (L) and Joe Smith Jr (R) are set to do battle on June 18
Anthony Yarde (right) is aiming to fight the winner after defeating Lyndon Arthur (left)
Callum Smith (right) is now a contender at 175lbs after moving up from super-middleweight
For Richards, Saturday night’s showdown will determine who the best fighter in the domestic scene is, but it’s a scene he wants to leave behind upon victory.
‘I feel like this fight is to find out the No 1,’ he said. ‘I feel like after my recent performances, a lot of people would pick me to be No 1, but based on the promotional aspect, his name being pumped out there, people are questioning whether I’m better than him.
‘Josh has been pumped to be the guy and there’s been a lot of talk, so it’s like, ‘Ok, this is the last one to prove where I believe I’m at’.
‘Buatsi’s the only one left who’s on my radar, I just want to push on now. I would love to move on in my career. I’ve had so many domestic fights, it would just be nice to fight people from around the globe and win world titles.
‘A massive domestic clash, headlining the O2, I think it will be the icing on the cake before pushing on.’
Richards is now relishing the opportunity to upset the odds once more on Saturday night
And in coming into another bout as the underdog, Richards is relishing the opportunity to upset the odds once more.
‘It’s more satisfying sometimes when you’re the underdog,’ he said. ‘When you’ve got something to prove, there’s more rewards for me, there’s more of an achievement.
‘I love causing upsets all the time, I usually perform my best when I’m the underdog. There’s less pressure on me and more on them.
‘They’re tipped to perform, there’s nothing better they can do, they’re meant to win, I’m not meant to win. When I come and cause the upset it’s great.’
That’s exactly what Richards will attempt to do on Saturday. Whether that’s by stoppage or points is irrelevant for the light-heavyweight, he ensures. All that matters is getting the win, proving who the best in Britain is and getting back to world level.
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Source: Daily Mail Online