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Light heavyweight contenders Joshua Buatsi 15-0 (13) and Craig ‘Spider’ Richards 17-2-1 (10) will clash in London on May 21.
The winner of the bout will be vying for a shot at the victor of the WBA 175-pound title fight between champion Dmitry Bivol 19-0 (11) and challenger Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 57-1-2 (39) in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7.
Buatsi is ranked number three by the WBA. Richards, the WBA number seven contender, dropped a competitive decision to Bivol in May last year.
“I wouldn’t dub it as the hardest test for me, it’s just the most important fight in my career right now,” the 29-year-old Buatsi said. “It’s the next fight, the fight I must win, last time with [Ricards] Bolotniks but this time it’s Spider. I’ll prepared as diligently as I do, come May 21 I’ll be ready.
“I have to thank Matchroom and Spider’s team, also my team, for making this fight happen. Fighters can tend to wait for the opportunity, for me currently it’s looking a bit tricky, but I’ve got a good fight and that’s what I’m concentrating on. “I think that [Canelo] makes this a big fight for me, makes it even more important. I know what is at stake, what the reward is and that’s what I said when I was in Arizona. I’ll fight these guys as long as I know what’s next. This may lead to a world title fight next so for me, I’m easy, no matter who it is I’m prepared. “I’m at the point where I want to fight these guys, I want to get into these big fights. May 21 is the first stop and when we handle that, we deal with whoever is next.
“This is nothing new, outside I’m cool and calm probably like a lot of boxers but when I’m in that ring I know what time it is. I know what I need to do, and the situation is, nice guys come last and that’s what it is in the ring. Outside the ring be how you want to be, but in that ring, I know what I have to do. In May I’ll be ready.”
“I think this was a fight that was always going to be in the pipeline, I believed I was going to get to world level, I believed he [Buatsi] was obviously destined for world level as well so we knew our paths would cross at some point. It’s a good clash,” the 31-year-old Richards said.
“…I think I’ve got the capabilities to win in any way, the most important thing is to prepare all-round the board.
“I’ve got to be prepared for everything, at this level you can’t just say I’m going to win it by a jab or closing him down. You’ve got prepare for Plan A, B, C or D, you might have to get rough and ready or box and be clever.
“It all depends on the night, you’ve just got to make sure you’ve prepared, have all your game plans and be fit, ready and strong. On the night just make it happen, listen to your team most importantly and execute what you need to win the fight.”
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