Dan Azeez v Joshua Buatsi

[Master]

Dan Azeez believes his experience fighting and winning as the underdog will give him the edge over friend and sparring partner Joshua Buatsi in their world title eliminator fight.

The south Londoners are set to face off in a blockbuster light-heavyweight bout at the O2 on Saturday October 21, live on Sky Sports, with neither fighter having a professional loss on their record.

Azeez, though, believes that he has the edge over Buatsi as they face off in a "genuine 50/50 fight", having beaten fighters that were "probably technically better".

When asked whether he fears losing his unbeaten record, Azeez explained "there's other ways that you lose in life".

"In training, there's so many ways you lose, so you just learn from losses to get better.

"I don't care about getting an L on my record otherwise I wouldn't have taken the fight.

"It could go either way, so it's about putting everything together and doing everything necessary to get the victory.

"It's not my first 50/50 I've been in - there have been many fights where on paper they've been 50/50 and it's not the first time that I've been in there with someone that's probably technically better than me - I've always found a way to win.

"I don't think he's been in that situation where he's ever been the underdog - every fight he's been a favourite, so I'm used to being in this situation and still coming out on top."
On whether his experience of having gone into fights as an underdog gives him the edge in his over Buatsi, the 34-year-old said, "yes - it always does".

"It gives you that drive.

"When people don't believe you can do something, it's not so much about proving them wrong but I want to prove that I'm right.

"You know what it's like being in uncomfortable situations.

"I can see it going the distance - all the outcomes, I wouldn't be surprised with - but the main outcome I'm focused on is me being the winner."

Watch Joshua Buatsi take on Dan Azeez at the O2 Arena live on Sky Sports on Saturday, October 21.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...7d38e10&ei=170

[Master]

I am really looking forward to this fight this weekend. After the top world class contest between Wood v Warrington this is another quality bout that boxing fans should be excited about.

Buatsi is technically brilliant and has the talent to be a champion. He has been showcased for years as the next big thing, but his career stalled however it seems he is back on track for the big contests.

Azeez has grown on me especially since he is a fan of Marvin Hagler. He wears Marvelous trunk colours and fights like him. He is the underdog in this matchup, but I will be rooting for him this Saturday night. This fight will be compelling until the end and is a great domestic battle. The winner should face Yarde that would be even bigger.

Shame that Catterall v Linares is on at the same day. These promoters should stop letting their ego get in the way of boxing events like these.

[Master]

British boxing promotion, BOXXER, has reached a media rights partnership with NBC, giving American audiences the chance to see fight cards that air exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

For starters: First- and second-ranked light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez will square off from London's O2 Arena on Saturday.

'You look back at Prince Naseem, Amir Khan - and Tyson Fury in recent history - and how well they've done in the US, that was always in the back of my mind: I want US audiences to be able to see these kids, to see our stable and see these guys from [a young age],' BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom told Mail Sport.

'And NBC is the perfect platform because in a similar way to Sky, their rights portfolio is massive - one of our main goals is to make boxing as mainstream and inclusive and as easy to access as possible and when you consider [they have] the Premier League, the WWE, the Olympics, for boxing… you couldn't get a better partner.'

Initially, BOXXER's fights on NBC platforms will be based in the UK, but Shalom hopes to broaden his promotion's reach.

Ultimately, he told Mail Sport, he'd like to do the kinds of events that will attract major audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
'But obviously the goal of both businesses is to be able to develop that and look at opportunities and over time - once we develop our partnership - to bring shows to the US and possibly one day have the first trans-Atlantic pay-per-views across platforms,' he said. 'That's the vision, that's the goal.'

As many American fight fans already know, the timing couldn't be better.

Following HBO's retreat from the sport, and Showtime's plans to follow, there are hardly any media platforms offering much air time to boxing in the US these days.

'Particularly when you see the US in a state of flux - with boxing potentially coming off platforms [Showtime], it's brilliant to have a big broadcaster now taking boxing back on,' Shalom told Mail Sport.

'I view it as a market of such untapped potential. Boxing is one of those sports that's always going through peaks and troughs but it's a sport without language barriers, it's a sport that everyone understands and when it's big, it's very big. It is in a state of flux at the moment, the US market… but we've had the best schedule we've seen in years from PBC and Top Rank are brilliant too. There's so much room for growth… the key is getting boxing in front of mainstream audiences.'

Shalom believes he has the right talents to attract American viewers, including 26-year-old light heavyweight Ben Whittaker, 21-year-old junior welterweight Adam Azim, and 22-year-old Super bantamweight Caroline Dubois – all Brits.

In Dubois' case, Shalom is hopeful that the Londoner can follow in the footsteps of American boxing sensation Claressa Shields.

'I think she's the type of personality and star - especially at 22 years old - where she'll really benefit from it,' Shalom said.

Azim, meanwhile, is positioned well to succeed in the US because of all of the American talent around 140 pounds.

'What a division he's in, with the big American stars over there, it's good to get his name out there,' Shalom said of the 4-0 Olympic silver medalist. 'There's huge names and huge fights for him down the line, with the Americans in particular so it's great to be able to get him (there) early on in his career.'

To Shalom, the key is to get Azim exposure now, when he's still young: 'For a long time, British fighters got their US exposure towards the tail end of their careers.'

Most importantly, by bringing his bouts to the US, Shalom hopes to see the sport rise in popularity, internationally.

'It's the biggest market in the world,' Shalom said of the US, 'and it needs to be doing well for boxing to be doing well.'

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/wnba...c03ecff&ei=203

[Master]

Unified world champion Artur Beterbiev could be open to a future fight against the winner of Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez, says Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.

If the Canada-based champion extends his explosive unbeaten record, featuring 19 knockouts in 19 wins, then Beterbiev could offer a world title shot to the Buatsi-Azeez winner.

"Since Artur made such a big splash in the UK against Yarde, we would not be opposed to him returning one day in the future," Arum, who promotes Beterbiev, told Sky Sports.

Azeez has already traded numerous punches with Beterbiev after being brought in for explosive sparring sessions.

'Beterbiev's power keeps you jittery!'

"The overhands and the bodywork, those little things, there are small little things that Beterbiev does. I don't think a lot of people give him credit for his actual boxing IQ because obviously he's knocked out everyone," Azeez told Sky Sports earlier this year.

"He's got a very intelligent mind in there.

"In sparring as well you'd throw a shot at him and you'd miss by an inch, he's got very good footwork," Azeez added. "He might come across like he's flat-footed but he's actually got good footwork and he knows how to move around the ring.

"It's that punching power, it keeps you jittery and makes you expend more energy than you want to because you know if I'm in too close, I could get tagged. If I make a mistake, I could get tagged. So you're thinking a lot more than you want to, so it's hard.

"As you see when you watch him, when he throws his shots, it doesn't look like he puts too much into it. It's deceiving but there's power behind it."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...c03ecff&ei=224

[Master]

The all-British fight between light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez has been postponed after Azeez suffered a back injury in training.

Buatsi, 30, and Azeez, 33, were set to fight in a final eliminator at London's O2 Arena on Saturday for the right to meet WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol.

"I'm devastated for this to happen on fight week," said Azeez, who is ranked second with the WBA with Buatsi first.

Details of the fight being rescheduled are yet to be announced.

"It still hasn't sunk in," said Azeez. "I've never had to withdraw from a fight in my career before.

"I want to apologise to all the fans, especially those travelling to the fight.

"I am also extremely sorry to my opponent Joshua Buatsi, to my promoter and to everyone involved who has worked so hard on this date. I hope this fight can be rescheduled as soon as possible."

The undefeated Londoners, who are friends outside the ring, started out at the same amateur boxing club in south London.Fans have been calling for the pair to fight for some time.

Azeez - the English, Commonwealth and European champion - has 20 straight wins under his belt as a pro, while 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Buatsi has won all 17 of his pro fights.

The bout would have been the first time either boxer had fought in a venue as large as the O2 and promotional outfit Boxxer said more than 10,000 fans were set to attend the event.

Boxxer founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: "This is a big shock. I know that Dan [Azeez] would do anything to be in the ring on Saturday night and for this to happen at this stage is devastating.

"This is a huge fight for British boxing, but the health and safety of our fighters must come first. My heart goes out to Dan and Joshua, who have both completed tough camps, and to the fans."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/67137578

[Master]

Jorge Linares v jack Catterall on now.

[Master]

Entertaining first round from both. Their front leg is getting tangled as they try to get in position.