Joshua Buatsi Next Fight: If not now, then when for Croydon light heavy?

Joshua Buatsi had a 2024 to remember followed by an early-2025 to forget. Wins over world-ranked British light heavyweights Dan Azeez and Willy Hutchinson netted the Croydon man the British, Commonwealth and WBO interim championships.

Then the wheels came off as former WBC and The Ring super middleweight champion Callum Smith beat Buatsi by unanimous decision in February.

Where next for JB? Read on to find out who Buatsi might face next as he looks to rebound from a first career defeat.

Buatsi boxed twice in 2024, but the 31-year-old went for quality over quantity. First came a win over longtime friend and British and Commonwealth kingpin Azeez. After that unanimous nod, Buatsi then outpointed Hutchinson in a Wembley thriller to lift the WBO interim light heavyweight title. 

Fans have complained in the past that Buatsi has been moved too slowly as a professional. That at 32, he should have beaten a truly world class opponent by now. It is a fair allegation. While Buatsi had boxed and won in world-ranked company, he was yet to truly ascend to the elite level.

Azeez and Hutchinson are good wins. Buatsi’s decision victory over Craig Richards in May 2022 was another fine victory. But nothing on his record has been truly career-defining in its scope. What Buatsi needed was a big result over a decorated former world champion.

That was supposed to come at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh back in February. Smith ticked all the boxes. A former world champion of renown. Someone who had been in with the best, including Artur Beterbiev and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. But, after losing to that pair, a fighter viewed as possibly there for the taking. Smith was seen as the perfect stepping stone. But the problem with stepping stones is this: they are still rock-hard if you fall on one face first.

Smith had far more of his world class skills left than anticipated. It was a fierce battle and Buatsi made sure it was thrilling the whole way. But Smith was a deserving winner when all was said and done. That WBO interim title and its sweet-nothing whispers of a crack at Dmitry Bivol down the line was gone.

Buatsi can lament his defeat but he should be applauded for taking the fight on. Some would argue over the business decision in risking a near-guaranteed shot at the world title against a foe like 'Mundo'. If boxers only take fights where they are an overwhelming favourite, it hurts the sport and the fans. Nobody wants to watch a card full of one-sided bouts. Buatsi gambled and he lost on this occasion. But he chanced his arm against one of the best recent British fighters. No shame in that.

It has been quiet in terms of a concrete next fight for Buatsi. He expressed interest in fighting the winner of Ben Whittaker's rematch with Liam Cameron. As we now know, Whittaker won that fight dominantly in two rounds. The fight is easy to make as both are promoted by Ben Shalom's BOXXER. It would be a massive step-up for Whittaker, given Buatsi's pedigree. But his outspoken nature would mean all eyes would be on a battle between 'The Surgeon' and 'Just Business'.

Another potential fighter that Buatsi could clash with is Anthony Yarde. The two have called each other out post-fight on numerous occasions, but the bout has never come to fruition. It will be a crying shame if two world class 175-pounders from Britain who have shared an era never cross paths in the ring.

Khalil Coe, the American puncher, has called out Buatsi in the past. A loss to Manuel Gallegos followed in a huge upset, but 'Big Steppa' avenged that result in May. Perhaps Buatsi fancies his chances after seeing the 28-year-old dealt with by Gallegos?

There are other options. A rematch with Smith would appeal to anyone enthralled by their excellent first meeting. If Southampton's world-ranked Lewis Edmondson comes through against Daniel Lapin in July, that match-up makes sense. But ultimately, I see Buatsi following whichever road leads back to world title contention. Yarde and Smith seem to fulfil that need the best at this stage.

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