BUATSI VS YARDE WHO WINS ???

In a triumphant victory, Croydon's rising star, Buatsi, with an undefeated record of 18-0 and 13 knockouts, has secured his position as the mandatory challenger for the WBA light heavyweight title. The reigning champion, Dmitry Bivol, who has held the title since November 2017, is now gearing up for a showdown with the lineal, WBC, IBF, and WBO champion, Artur Beterbiev, in a bid for the undisputed championship on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.

The significance of this upcoming clash is not lost on Buatsi, a 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist, who is not content with merely forcing Bivol's hand. Instead, he is ready to take on the challenge of vying for all the belts. Despite the potential world title shot, Buatsi has his eyes set on a domestic matchup to keep his skills sharp – a bout against the former two-time title challenger, Anthony Yarde (24-3, 23KOs).

"If the world title shot can't be next, then I would love to sneak in a Yarde fight," Buatsi expressed. "Definitely want to fight Anthony Yarde. It would be nice to fit that one in this year while we're waiting for the mandatory to be enforced."

Yarde is currently scheduled to face Serbia's Marko Nikolic (32-3, 12KOs) this Saturday at Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick, aligning perfectly with Buatsi's desired timeline. The prospect of adding another notable contender to his resume and staying sharp for the impending high-stakes challenge for the division's top prize excites Buatsi.

"If Beterbiev and Bivol get to unify, then we get to face the undisputed champion for all the belts," Buatsi mused. "We want to fight for a world title, but now it looks like we get to fight for all four instead of just one."

Buatsi, who showcased his prowess with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Azeez, emphasizes his commitment to staying active. Unwilling to idly wait for his earned shot at the WBA belt currently held by Bivol, he remains interested in the much-anticipated Yarde fight.

"I want to keep active, and, before you ask me, yes, I'm still interested in a Yarde fight," Buatsi declared. "If that fight proposes itself and it's a good one, and my team and I think it's right, we'll take that too. Absolutely. As long as the numbers are right and my team feels it's right, absolutely. The Yarde one, people have been looking forward to and talking about it for a long time."

Finesse Boxing