For two fighters looking to take each other’s heads off this Saturday night, Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards have quite a bit in common.
Both men discovered a love of boxing while growing up in Croydon. They both attended the same gym and worked with the same trainer. They fought in the amateurs and later sparred together. Now they square off under the lights at the 02 Arena this Saturday night with everything at stake.
This showdown has been labelled ‘The Battle of South London’ as an all-British dust-up where the winner will earn the bragging rights and go on to bigger and better things, with the loser sent back to the drawing board.
Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards (R) will face off in a ‘South London derby’ this Saturday night
Buatsi comes into the fight as the favourite after an unbeaten career with 15 straight victories
If this fight needed selling, Eddie Hearn only had to point to their domestic rivalry and his opening line in the first press conference was reminding fans that the pair have grown up a ‘stone’s throw away’ from each other and know each other well. That certainly adds a bit of heat to the cooking pot.
It’s fair to say this fight is one that many fighters avoid – especially when a world title fight is in touching distance at 175lbs in the light-heavyweight division. Both men deserve credit for putting their reputations and pride aside to get this one on.
Buatsi – who was born in Ghana before his family moved to the UK in Thornton Heath, south London – is already salivating at the prospect of this potentially-feisty bout.
The 2016 Olympic Bronze medal winner admitted it feels like two London football rivals going head to head – which adds ‘spice’ into the mix as they prepare to go to war.
Buatsi admits he is relishing his battle against fellow South London boy Richards, who boxed at the same gym as him
‘A few people have said this is the Battle of South London,’ he said recently in an interview with Sportsmail.
‘Whether it’s Richards or anyone else, it seems like a derby. If two London teams are playing each other, it’s gonna be a great match. It adds a bit of spice to it.’
And these two have previous together. They are familiar with each other having shared a boxing upbringing at the South Norwood and Victory Club in Crystal Palace and gone on to fight at the 2014 English National Championships Preliminaries.
Buatsi came out on top with a unanimous decision over a three-round contest, though both men will pay little attention to that day having come on leaps and bounds since then.
Richards himself has questioned his rival’s pedigree. Buatsi has blitzed past most of his opponents to go to 15-0 and is yet to face a significant challenge, while his upcoming opponent recently fought world champion Dmitri Bivol – who recently gained attention for beating Canelo Alvarez – and lost on points.
Buatsi believes their similar roots adds ‘spice’ to the fight having sparred Richards and fought him in the amateur ranks
Richards, known as ‘Spider’, believes he has more pedigree after going up against light-heavy world champion Dmitri Bivol
‘He did well as an amateur and in the Olympics, you can’t argue with that,’ Richards said about Buatsi. ‘Are those skills transferable to the pros? As a professional I’ve jumped into deep waters and proved myself, I’ve been the underdog time and time again.
‘We’re yet to see that from Josh, there hasn’t been a fight he’s been in that anyone has said, “this is a 50-50 fight, I think Josh could lose this fight”.
‘He’s had that amateur pedigree and has been guided into a safer journey. He’s earned that right of course, but with me I have had to jump in, sink or swim, and he’s played it safe, but the safety cap is off now.’
Buatsi, of course, is having none of that. The 29-year-old believes Richards has overlooked many of the opponents he has faced.
Richards insists he has jumped in at the deep end where he had to either ‘sink or swim’
‘I am the best in the country,’ he said. ‘[Richards] is saying I haven’t proved myself, but I don’t think that’s true. We were both amateurs, he fought, I fought, we entered the same tournaments, and I went on and did what I did. So, he cannot say that I’ve had an easier route, just because I went to the Olympics and did well. I killed myself for that medal, gave everything for it.
‘I had that 50-50 fight against Ricards Bolotniks. A few of the governing bodies had him in their top five. He was a very good opponent and I stopped him. His management team said that they rated me for taking the fight, because all the other light-heavyweights in the country didn’t want to fight him. We didn’t think twice.’
Buatsi promised Richards he will deliver ‘straight violence’ when they come to blows on May 21.
‘I am better than him 100 per cent, come on,’ he added. ‘I’ve looked at him in the eyes and he knows who I am. You don’t need to explain. I don’t need to talk smack and I don’t need the media. Forget the image, when I fight, it’s straight violence. I carry myself in a certain way, but when I get in the ring, it’s straight violence.
Buatsi believes he is the best light-heavyweight in the UK and plans to bring ‘straight violence’
‘In professional boxing we’re all carrying ourselves in a certain way, but the brakes are off when I’m in the ring. The talking doesn’t do it, the fighting does.
‘Whatever I must do, I will do and in that ring, I know in myself that I will find a way to win and do what I have to do. Winning by any formula. I’ve looked at him, I’ve seen him, I know what is going to happen to him and he knows too.’
It appears it’s not all fire and tension between these two though, as Buatsi recently admitted he has a good relationship with Richards’ family.
‘I bump into Craig’s mum and sister around South London, they really support his career and they are really cool people,’ he added.
‘When I see them there are always warm greetings and respect.
‘Craig has just become someone that people want to see me fight and I am sure his fans want to see him fight me, so be it.’
Rest assured, this is more than just a fight. It’s a different sport to a football derby, but the rules are the same. Pride is at stake. There will be aggression and maybe even dirty tricks at play, but the prize is far grander than local bragging rights.
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Source: Daily Mail Online