Light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi is scheduled to face unbeaten Dan Azeez on Saturday in London.
JOSHUA BUATSI (17-0, 13 KOs)
VS. DAN AZEEZ (20-0, 13 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
- Time: 3 p.m. ET / noon PT (main event later in show)
- Where: O2 Arena, London
- TV/Stream: Peacock
- Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)
- At stake: No major title
- Odds: Buatsi 3-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Pound-for-pound: None
- Also on the card: Mikael Lawal vs. Isaac Chamberlain, cruiserweights; Louis Greene vs. Sam Gilley, junior middleweights; Michael Hennessy vs. Harley Benn, junior middleweights
- Prediction: Buatsi KO 9
- Background: The winner of this fight reportedly will be the mandatory challenger to Dmitry Bivol’s WBA title. Buatsi, 30, is a talented 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who has remained perfect as a professional but has yet to face an elite opponent. The Ghana-born Londoner is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Pawel Stepien on May 6. Azeez is a friend and former stablemate of Buatsi. The 34-year-old from London also has built his record against second-tier opponents. He last fought on July 15, when he outpointed journeyman Khalid Graidia in an eight-rounder.