The near year long wait for Joshua Buatsi is almost over.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist was last in action against fellow Englishman Craig Richards just under a year ago winning by unanimous decision. Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) joined Boxxer with a view to fighting on Sky Sports after a very public fallout with Matchroom.
Pawel Stępień is the man in Buatsi’s way tomorrow night. The undefeated fighter from Poland makes the first appearance outside his homeland. Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KOs) had been due to face Callum Smith on March 11 in Liverpool. However, Smith pulled out due to injury.
Both made the light heavyweight limit at the Birmingham Meterpole Hilton Hotel. Buatsi hit the scales 1 pound under at 174. Stepien came in bang on the mark at 175 pounds. The pair clash over 12 rounds at the Resorts World Arena live on Sky Sports tomorrow night.
Some words were exchanged in the post weigh-in face-off, nothing of any note happened in a physical sense. Both men looked in good shape.
The evening’s chief support will see history be made when Lauren Price (3-0) meets Kirstie Bavington (7-3-2, 2 KOs) for the British Welterweight title. The first time the belt has been contested. Price came in at 146.3 pounds with Wolverhampton’s Bavington hitting the scales at 146 pounds exactly. Price had made a quick start to her career after winning gold at Tokyo. She fights for the British title in just her forth fight.
The man Boxxer and Ben Shalom are pinning the regions boxing hopes on, Ben Whittaker, faces off with Jordan Grant in the light heavyweight division. Grant came in at precisely at 175 pounds, Whittaker came in just under the limit by 5 oz.
