Joshua Buatsi survives a bruising encounter with Marko Calic to keep his unbeaten record with a 7th round TKO victory
In his fifth defence of the WBA International light-heavyweight title, unbeaten light-heavyweight, Joshua Buatsi makes an impressive statement as he overcomes adversity to beat Croatia's Marko Calic at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
Calic bought an unbeaten record of 11-0 into the light-heavyweight matchup and proved himself to be by far Buatsi's stiffest test to date.
Seemingly unfazed by the reputation of Buatsi, and after a competitive opening couple of rounds, Calic had Buatsi in some real trouble at the end of the 3rd - backing him up onto the ropes and landing some heavy punches.
By the fifth round, Buatsi's left eye had badly swollen - becoming a frequent target for the big right hand of Calic.
After six hard-fought rounds, the turning point came in the 7th when, after switching to a southpaw stance, Calic got caught with a big right hand that set up an onslaught from Buatsi. After taking a knee and a count, Calic tried to fight on, but with Buatsi going in for the kill, Calic's corner threw in the towel.
Buatsi told Sky Sports: "Big respect to him, he pushed me all the way, and credit to him - I had to dig deep".
"I got a thumb, I think like the 3rd round or something like that . . .I felt the swelling straight away."
I noticed he went southpaw and I thought ok cool . . . it's a bit different, so I looped the right hand, caught him. When it landed I said I know you're hurt. You're hiding it quite well but you're hurt".
"Great opponent. Under the radar, hasn't been heard of . . . we knew he was a top amateur . . . but people didn't know about him . . . now they should".
The fight was the first in almost a full year for Buatsi who last fought in October 2019, knocking out Canada's Ryan Ford in the 7th round. The win takes his record to 13-0 and keeps him on course for a potential domestic clash with British Rival, Anthony Yarde, who recently stopped Dec Spelman with a 6th round TKO.
Though no plans are yet in place for Buatsi and Yarde to face each other, both men and their promoters have previously expressed interest in the fight, and as two of Britains top, up and coming light-heavyweights - both at similar stages in their careers - a collision at some point in the near future seems inevitable.
Elsewhere on the card -
Chantelle Cameron (13-0) vs Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-1)
Super-lightweight (WBC World title)
Winner - Cameron (Points 100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
Chantelle Cameron is crowned WBC super-lightweight champion of the World after dominating Adriana Dos Santos Araujo over ten one-sided rounds.
Niall Kennedy (13 - 2 - 1) vs Allen Babic (5 - 0)
8 rounds at Heavyweight
Winner - Babic (TKO 3)
Allen 'The Savage' Babic continues his rise through the heavyweight ranks, blasting out Niall Kennedy in the 3rd round.
Kane Baker (13 - 7) vs Aqib Fiaz (6 - 0)
8 rounds at lightweight
Winner - Fiaz (77 - 75)
Aqib Fiaz puts in an impressive performance, earning the decision against very game Kane Baker.
John Hedges (1 - 0) vs Jan Arden (2 - 5)
4 rounds at super-middleweight
Winner - Hedges (39 - 37)
John J Hedges narrowly survives his professional debut being awarded a controversial decision over Jan Arden.
John Harding Jr (8 - 2 - 1) vs Linus Udofia (16 - 0 - 0)
10 rounds for the English middleweight title
Winner - Udofia (TKO 9)
Linus Udofia successfully defended his English middleweight title, stopping John Harding Jr in the 9th round.
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