Buatsi vs Stepien 06-05-23

BOXXER’s terrific trio of electrifying events kicks off with ‘Crowning Glory’ on Saturday, May 6th at the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham when newly-announced BOXXER signing Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13 KO’s) makes his eagerly-anticipated promotional debut.

On the day King Charles III is coronated, the former British light-heavyweight champion – who is ranked No.1 in the world by the WBA – faces Pawel Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KO’s) in the headline bout and looks to end his Polish rival’s undefeated record in emphatic fashion as he kicks off his conquest for a world title.

Lauren Price MBE and Kirstie Bavington become the first female professional boxers in history to compete for the inaugural British Female Championship and a coveted Lonsdale Belt.

Generational prodigy Ben Whittaker (2-0, 1 KO’s) returns to the ring following an enforced injury layoff which has seen him sidelined since August last year. For his third outing as a professional lightheavyweight, he faces Jordan ‘The Game’ Grant (6-3, 1 KO) who brings triple Whittaker’s professional experience to the ring and has a well-deserved

reputation for unbelievable toughness thanks to such feats as going the distance and winning a unanimous decision despite breaking his right hand in the first minute of a fight.

Kaisee Benjamin (16-2-1, 6 KO’s) faces Ireland’s Sean McComb (15-1, 5 KO’s) in what will undoubtedly be an all-action encounter from bell to bell.

And Birmingham’s Cori Gibbs (17-1, 3 KO’s) is out for revenge when he faces Jimmy First in an immediate rematch of their December encounter.

Former British light-heavyweight champion Shakan Pitters (17-2, 6 KO’s) faces former English champion Joel McIntyre (20-6, 5 KO’s), with both fighters looking for a win to return themselves to the contender conversation.

And current British middleweight champion Tyler Denny (16-2-3), competing in his native Birmingham for the first time since 2019 in a non-title match against Natasha Jonas stablemate Macauley

McGowan (17-3-2, 3 KO’s), who came away with a controversial draw decision in Paris last month after seemingly clearly bested the home fighter over eight rounds.

JOSHUA BUATSI

Joshua Buatsi wants to leave no doubt that he’s the leading Light-Heavyweight in the country as he faces local rival Pawel Stepien tonight. Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) finally gets his hands on one of his fellow high-flying domestic rivals at 175lbs, with Richards hunting down a second World title shot after rising to the occasion in a tight loss to Dmitry Bivol last May in Manchester.

Richards’ performance against the WBA champion looks more impressive after Bivol produced a masterclass to defeat Mexican pound for pound king Canelo Alvarez earlier in the month, and the Croydon man has been bullish in the build-up, saying that he is Buatsi’s first real test in the paid ranks. The Olympic bronze medal man has adopted the mantra ‘Just Business’ in and out of the ring for the clinical way he goes about his work, and while there’s local bragging rights up for grabs against fellow South Londoner Richards, Buatsi knows that victory would lay the foundation to both claim the number one spot in the country and underline the need for a World title shot to be next.

“I am the best in the country,” said Buatsi. “The truth is though; we haven’t fought each other. Spider is the first Light-Heavyweight in Britain that I am boxing, so from there I can make a point of it. Everyone can say they are the best, but until someone gets a World title to separate themselves, then everyone has a point to make, and we are the first to really fight.

“He is saying I haven’t proved myself, but I don’t think that’s true. We were both amateurs, he fought, I fought, we entered the same tournaments, and I went on and did what I did. So, he cannot say that I’ve had an easier route, just because I went to the Olympics and did well. I killed myself for that medal, gave everything for it, so the narrative people have said and that he’s said too, I don’t think it’s true.

“WHEN I FIGHT, IT’S STRAIGHT VIOLENCE”

“I think I had that 50-50 fight against Ricards Bolotniks. A few of the governing bodies had him in their top five. I didn’t rank him, they ranked him. He was a very good opponent and I stopped him. His management team said that they rated me for taking the fight, because all the other Light-Heavyweights in the country didn’t want to fight him. We didn’t think twice.

“Craig had a good scrap with Bivol, but people have forgotten about it. I beat Bolotniks and people have forgotten about that too, that’s just what happens, but we’re here now.

“There wasn’t a lot of options out there, it was a fight that was being pushed and I said, ‘cool let’s take it’. It’s a good fight, he’s a good opponent, it’s in London. I have the same mindset and I’ll handle business as usual.

“I’m unbeaten but that means nothing to me. I haven’t got time to listen to the masses. He’s in front of me and that’s all that matters, not who is one or two, just the fight that’s happening and that’s what is in front of me. We’re not talking, we’re not making assumptions, we’re not predicting - we know that May 21 this is the guy I have got.

“I am better than him 100 per cent. Come on. I’ve looked at him in the eyes and he knows who I am. You don’t need to explain. I don’t need to talk smack and I don’t need the media. I love my private life. I’ve got opinions, but I don’t care about social media or any of that. Forget the image, when I fight, it’s straight violence. I carry myself in a certain way, but when I get in the ring, it’s straight violence. In professional boxing we’re all carrying ourselves in a certain way, but the brakes are off when I’m in the ring. The talking doesn’t do it, the fighting does.

PAWEL STEPIEN

Pawel Stepien returns to action off the back of his most high profile victory to date when he KO’d veteran American World title challenger Hank Lundy in December at the M&S Bank Arena in his home city of Liverpool.

Tonight the 32-year-old Scouser shares a ring with California native Javier Molina in defence of his WBA Continental Super-Lightweight title in a contest he knows only a victory will suffice if he is to pursue his dream of a late career World title shot “Whatever fights I get offered these days I’ll except, I leave all that to Shane (McGuigan),” said Davies Jr at Thursdays presser. “They had a look at Javier (Molina) and said he was a good opponent for me, he’s been in with former World champions and has a good resume. These are the step ups I need and I will be ready come Saturday night.”

Back in February 2021 Davies Jr, 22-3-15 KO’s, suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Mexican puncher Gabriel Gollaz Valenzula whilst attempting to restart his career following a distance loss

“I WANT TO SHOW DEVELOPMENT”

to Newcastle’s Lewis Ritson in a 12-round war, prompting a switch of trainers to the popular and successful Shane McGuigan stable.

“When I fought Valenzula people could see what was going on, nine times out of 10 I’d have beaten him,” Davies Jr explained. “That’s what hurt me the most, not knowing where my career was going. I put it out on social media and lots of people reached out to me and one of those names that stood out was the McGuigan gym. They have numerous champions coming into the gym week in week out and since I’ve been there I have gone up another level and come Saturday I will show how much I have improved.

“Since I’ve been with Shane I have felt very comfortable and Saturday will be no different,” said the Kirkby native. “I’m looking to make a statement. It was a great night against Lundy, it all fell into place and I’m looking for a repeat. Getting one of these Continental titles is all about getting a ranking with the governing bodies and now that (Josh) Taylor has relinquished one of his belts it opens things up and it puts me in with a chance of some big nights.

LIAM SMITH

Liam Smith believes he still has what it takes to become a two-time World champion – and putting a simmering rivalry with Jessie Vargas to bed tonight can put him in pole position to challenge for a World crown.

Smith and Vargas meet for the vacant WBO Intercontinental Junior Middleweight title in a fight that will determine the next chapters of both careers. The winner will close in on a shot at the title, while the loser will face questions over their future in the sport.

‘Beefy’ has been the more active of the two, with a KO win over local Liverpool rival Anthony Fowler in October following a harsh points defeat in Russia last May to Magomed Kurbanov, while Vargas has been out of the ring since tasting defeat for the third time in his career against Mikey Garcia in Texas in February 2020.

Tonight’s fight has been on the cards for some time now, long before it was postponed in February after Vargas caught COVID, and there’s been plenty of back and forth between the former World rulers. Vargas has been sparring in the political sphere too, launching a campaign to running to represent Nevada’s 4th U.S. Congressional District, and while he believes he’ll be the man to challenge for World honors once again, Smith feels the Las Vegas man is already looking at his next career and will pay the price tonight.

“You question if he wants to be here,” said Smith.

“I have this thing in my mind; he’s running for Congress, he hasn’t boxed for two years, he’s only got one fight left on his contract, so is this his last hurrah? Give me one more payday and I’ll move into politics?

“He’s very good technically, he’s got that typical Mexican American style and he likes to fight, meaning, he’s more of a boxer but he doesn’t shy away from a fight.

ONLY LOST TO PACQUIAO, BRADLEY, GARCIA AND SOON, TO LIAM SMITH”

“I know he’s a nice guy but for some reason, there’s a bit of needle there. I boxed Sam Eggington in March 2019, and Eddie mentioned Jessie’s name in the ring, and I thought, ‘yeah, you promote him, I’d like that’. We jumped on it, he fought Garcia which was cool — but that was two years ago, and he could have fought me in those two years.

“I met Jessie here at the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz fight when Callum was on the card, and we shook hands on the fight, so it just did my head in a bit not because I was chasing him and he’s a big money fight or a World title fight, I was after him because neither of us were going to get a title shot and it’s a very good fight.

“When I look at the landscape of the 154lb division, I believe I can be World champion again. If I didn’t, I would retire because I’m happy, I’ve got two lovely daughters, I’ve ruled the world - so I could retire a happy man. People would bite your hand off for the career I’ve had, but I am realistic I look at the champions and contenders and think ‘I can beat him, him and him’ so I am not done yet, I still have that fire in me.”

That fire in Smith was set in his teenage years and by growing up with three brothers that have all achieved so much in the sport. All four Smith brothers have been British champion and the youngest of the fab four, Callum, became the second to be World champion in September 2018.

“HE’S

Savannah Marshall believes her late standin opponent Maria Lindberg will prove to be a tougher assignment than her original opponent Femke Hermans when they meet for the WBO Middleweight World Title tonight.

Marshall (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped Hannah Rankin in seven rounds to win the vacant WBO crown last October, the former amateur World Champion was a class above her Scottish rival from the opening bell and managed to go one better than her old foe Claressa Shields by ending the fight inside the distance.

The Hartlepool fighter was due to face Belgium’s Hermans in her maiden defence until the European Champion was forced to pull out of their contest just days ago due to two positive Coronavirus tests in her camp.

Sweden’s Lindberg, a former four-time World Title challenger, has shared the ring with the likes of Christina Hammer, Ema Kozin and Marie Eve Dicaire, and Marshall is preparing for a hard night’s work in her first fight of 2021.

SAVANNAH MARSHALL

“THIS IS A TOUGHER FIGHT THAN THE ORIGINAL FIGHT”

“If anything, this is a tougher fight than the original fight we had,” said Marhsall. “Maria is very experienced, tough and been in with some of the best in the world – Christina Hammer twice. I’m expecting a tough fight come Saturday.

“I’ve had a twelve-week camp, so I’ve prepared for everything. Whatever Maria brings I’m more than confident I’ve got the answer for.

“I think it’s every boxer’s dream of being the Undisputed Champion and I do believe that is the biggest fight in female boxing, but I can’t look past Maria at the moment.”

LAWRENCE OKOLIE

New WBO World Champion Lawrence Okolie is a man on a mission to dominate the Cruiserweight division – and he’s ready to seek and destroy his mandatory challenger Dilan Prasovic in his first defence.

Okolie (16-0 13 KOs) landed the vacant crown in spectacular fashion behind closed doors in March, putting the exclamation mark on his superb performance against former World Champion Krzysztof Glowacki with a sixth round KO win in London.

The 2016 Olympian wasted no time in calling for unification bouts against his fellow belt holders but will first need to get past the unbeaten Montenegrin Prasovic who fights in his first World Title bout.

The ‘Sauce’ believes he will shine on the big stage as the chief-support bout of his manager Anthony Joshua and put in a performance that will illustrate his growing relationship with trainer Shane McGuigan and send a warning to the champions that he’s ready to add to his silverware.

“I was really happy with the performance,” said Okolie. “He is a former World Champion, really experienced and someone I watched on my way up. I boxed well, controlled the fight, and hardly got hit, and I was able to end it with a clean KO. A lot of people let big occasions get to them because it’s their big moment, but I just take it in my stride.

“I would love to say that it was the greatest moment of my life, but really I mainly felt relief. When I started boxing, I said that I wanted to go to the Olympics and I managed to do that, I was happy to make it but I think that created complacency for the Games. I promised myself I would never do that again and I dedicate myself so much to the sport that I deserve a World title, so I got what I deserved.