Industry Picks: Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez

JOSHUA BUATSI and Dan Azeez are two high quality operators who, in a distinct interval, might have been preventing one another for a world belt on Saturday evening (February 3). As it stands, nevertheless, each light-heavyweight contender is at the moment a long way behind their superiors Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t detract from what has develop into an eagerly anticipated home conflict because of their native rivalry, their friendship, and the postponement of the unique combat date final yr.

But what does the commerce suppose? Boxing News contacted a variety of figures throughout the business to get their predictions.

1. Anthony Yarde: (Light-heavyweight) – I’d give Dan Azeez an excellent probability, he is perhaps the favorite. He will get stronger because the combat goes on and he’s gone the laborious route and just lately he’s had higher performances. I’d choose Azeez however for my very own profession I hope Buatsi wins as a result of it makes the combat between me and him a bit extra fascinating.
2. Shakan Pitters (Light-heavyweight) – It undoubtedly goes to factors. Joshua hasn’t been as lively as he’d need to be. I understand how a lot exercise performs its half. Dan’s been very lively with Sky, and so they love his story. Joshua would most likely need to go for a stoppage as a result of as a lot he’s a Sky fighter I don’t see him getting a good determination.
3. Lyndon Arthur (Light-heavyweight) – I push in direction of Buatsi on factors.
4. Callum Johnson (Former British light-heavyweight champion) – I believe Buatsi would possibly simply have sufficient to beat him on factors, however I wouldn’t rule out Dan pulling it off. I’m genuinely trying ahead to it and barely favour Buatsi to get the win.
5. Liam Smith (Former WBO super-welterweight belt holder) – It’s an excellent combat however I edge in direction of Buatsi. He’s bought that little bit extra about him. Better boxing IQ and an excellent jab which I believe is perhaps the distinction within the combat. Azeez is stable, compact, match and works laborious however I believe Buatsi’s boxing mind and his jab, particularly, will get him over the road.
6. Leigh Wood (Former WBA featherweight belt holder) – Buatsi. He’s most likely not as entertaining however his fundamentals are higher. He makes much less errors, he’s much less reckless and I believe he’ll cruise to a factors victory. The fundamentals will get the job accomplished. Buatsi’s been beneath strain and are available out the opposite aspect and I believe he’ll do the identical once more.
7. Wayne Alexander (Former European super-welterweight champion) – I’ve modified my thoughts a number of instances about who wins. I believe the combat shall be an all-action hard-fought 12-rounder. Buatsi’s higher boxing abilities and approach shall be sufficient to win a factors determination.
8. Liam Dillon (British super-featherweight champion) – I believe Buatsi will win on a factors determination in a detailed combat and fascinating conflict of types. I believe Buatsi will use his sharp jab and work on retaining his distance, however I can see Azeez having success within the combat.
9. Raven Chapman (Featherweight) – I see the combat going the gap with Buatsi taking management in direction of the later rounds. Not writing Azeez off by any means as he has that canine in him, to dig deep and are available again when issues get robust.
10. Liam Walsh (Former British super-featherweight champion) – I barely favour Buatsi on factors. I do like Dan’s strategy (educated strain). I simply suppose this matchup fits Joshua’s type offering he stays disciplined and targeted for 12 rounds.
11. Samuel Antwi (British super-welterweight champion) – I believe it’s a back-and-forth combat, with each boxers having their moments. Buatsi’s expertise within the Olympics stands out as the issue that separates them and edges it in his favour.
12. Kevin Maree (Manager) – Buatsi ought to have an excessive amount of all spherical, however Azeez retains elevating his sport and getting the job accomplished. I really like Azeez’s perspective. He places on his Hagler warfare hat and duplicate shorts and off he goes. I’m backing him (Azeez) on a factors win.
13. Steve Wood (Manager/promoter) – Buatsi wins on factors. Azeez could also be aggressive early, however I consider the extent of novice expertise would be the distinction and Buatsi will draw back.
14. Tony Sims (Trainer) – Azeez has accomplished it the laborious method coming via on small corridor playing cards and has learnt his commerce. Buatsi has been the golden boy who everyone wished to signal after the Olympics. Both are undefeated and don’t know what it’s wish to lose. I’m going for Buatsi by shut determination. His class ought to show the deciding issue in the long run.
15. Jon Pegg (Manager/promoter) – Azeez in a tough factors win with momentum being the distinction.
16. Ryan Walsh (Former British featherweight champion) – This appears like a textbook boxer versus fighter contest. It’s going to be an important combat however I’m selecting Buatsi to win. I all the time favour the boxer and I believe he’ll win on factors.
17. Kaisy Khademi (Flyweight) – Great matchup, good types however I believe Buatsi’s pedigree will play its half and win on factors or late stoppage.
18. JJ Metcalf (Super-welterweight) – It’s an important combat. I fancy Buatsi on factors. I believe his technical potential will win him nearly all of the rounds and simply edge it.
19. Duke McKenzie (Former three-weight belt holder) – I’d be shocked if this goes the gap. Big take a look at for Azeez. The total class lies with Buatsi however the query is how will he cope along with his inactivity when pushed. His total expertise ought to see him acquire a late stoppage win.
20. Joe Hughes (Former European super-lightweight champion) – A really intriguing contest and a extremely robust one to name. I’d give the sting to Buatsi attributable to his intensive novice pedigree and I believe he’ll get a detailed factors determination.
21. Kevin Mitchell (Former light-weight) – Buatsi wins for me, perhaps a late stoppage. But it’s going to be a really aggressive combat.
22. Linus Udofia (Middleweight) – A tough combat to name. I believe Azeez wins on factors. I really feel Buatsi will do the eye-catching work, however Azeez will pressure the combat and push the tempo. I believe that can swing the choice in his favour.
23. Nathaniel Collins (British featherweight champion) – Buatsi is extra schooled and bought the novice pedigree. Azeez has come via each take a look at and accomplished it the correct method. For me that holds extra weight. The professional sport is completely different so I’d give Azeez the sting.
24. Sean McGoldrick (Former British bantamweight champion) – I believe Buatsi’s novice expertise and talent will give him the sting. I price Buatsi very extremely and I’m positive he’ll transfer onto world honours after this.
25. Gamal Yafai (Former European bantamweight champion) – I’m going for Buatsi. Azeez received’t have the ability to stroll down a a lot cleverer and greater puncher.
26. Gavin Gwynne (European light-weight champion) – I believe it’s a correct 50-50 combat, however I believe Buatsi goes to tug off a late stoppage.
27. Kal Yafai (Former WBA super-flyweight belt holder) – Buatsi. Amateur pedigree and he’s an Olympic medallist. Good energy and bodily energy, too. Just suppose he’s bought a bit an excessive amount of for Azeez who I additionally price.
28. Phil Jeffries (Manager/promoter) – Buatsi on factors.
29. Arnie Farnell (Trainer) – I believe Azeez wins. I like his compact type and work-rate. If Joshua doesn’t take him out early (which I don’t suppose he’ll) I can see Dan successful on factors.
30. Owen Cooper (Welterweight) – I believe Buatsi wins on factors. His abilities and pedigree will win him the combat. It shall be a detailed one with Azeez pushing the strain and making it robust.
31. Nina Hughes (WBA bantamweight belt holder) – It’s an important 50-50 home combat. I believe Buatsi has the higher boxing abilities, however Azeez is robust and has been extra lively and I believe he may simply pull it off.
32. Robbie Davies Jr (Super-lightweight) – My intestine feeling is to go along with Buatsi on factors nevertheless it’s a decent one. Azeez is a good fighter as nicely.
33. Tori Willetts (Bantamweight) – That’s a really laborious one to name. I’m on the fence for this combat.
34. Charlie Edwards (Former WBC flyweight belt holder) – I believe Buatsi will win. I really feel Dan Azeez will go for it however suppose Buatsi’s repertoire shall be an excessive amount of for Dan and can get a unanimous factors win.
35. Hannah Rankin (Former WBA super-welterweight belt holder) – I’m going with Buatsi. Although calm outdoors the ring, inside it he’s medical, spiteful, and technically very sound. I believe his ring IQ will enable him to dominate the combat in opposition to Azeez.
36. Bradley Rea (Super-middleweight) – I’m backing Azeez Technically, Buatsi is the superior boxer however in previous fights I believe he has proven a questionable engine. Sometimes after letting his fingers go, it appears he has the remainder of the spherical off to get better. I may see Azeez breaking him down and attending to him late for the upset win.
37. Gary Logan (Trainer) – Super type matchup. Dan’s profession thus far has extra momentum and plenty of folks give him that edge. I don’t. Buatsi’s opponent stage and tenacity in addition to his array of punches lets me consider he wins a detailed bitterly disputed factors win.
38. Conor Quinn (Flyweight) – I’m considering Buatsi by way of KO/TKO in later rounds. It’s an excellent combat however I believe it should convey out the very best in Buatsi as he’ll not need to go searching for Azeez. He’ll discover the opening and he’s a devastating puncher.
39. Sean Noakes (Welterweight) – Azeez. He has the momentum and has been extra lively.
40. Eddie Lam (Trainer) – I believe Buatsi beats Azeez by determination, nevertheless it’ll be a troublesome, laborious combat. I do know it doesn’t all the time work out like this, however his novice pedigree would possibly make the distinction.
41. Lauren Parker (European super-flyweight champion) – Buatsi and Azeez shall be an thrilling 50-50 combat. They each have contrasting types. It may go both method, however I’ll say Azeez on factors due to his boxer/fighter type.
42. Mark Neilson (Manager/promoter) – This is a troublesome one to name. On paper, they’re very related potential and expertise clever however I’m edging in direction of Azeez factors win. I believe Buatsi’s inactivity could possibly be the deciding issue.
43. Aston Brown (Middleweight) – I’m going for Buatsi by late stoppage. Just a bit higher all spherical in my view.
44. Paul Butler (Former IBF and WBO bantamweight belt holder) – This is a good combat. I’ll go along with Buatsi on factors. I fancy Azeez to have a robust end, however I believe Buatsi could have banked the rounds by then.
45. Troy Williamson (Former British super-welterweight champion) – I believe it’s a real 50-50 combat. I’m an enormous fan of each. I simply hope all of us get a very good combat, and each males depart the ring protected.
46. Steve Goodwin (Manager/promoter) – Dan Azeez has come via the small corridor scene and has deserved each success he has had. Sometimes although a fairytale involves an finish and in former Olympian Joshua Buatsi, I believe it does. The class of Buatsi to win by huge factors determination.
47. Padraig McCrory (Super-middleweight) – It’s an important combat. Azeez has made huge enhancements in such a brief area of time, however I believe Buatsi factors is the protected wager.
48. Matthew Hatton (Trainer) – Buatsi. Even although his current kind hasn’t been nice he regarded nice early on in his profession. I simply suppose he’s the higher fighter in most departments.
49. Nick Campbell (Heavyweight) – Very robust 50-50 combat. It’s laborious to separate them. I believe Buatsi simply has extra components to his sport that can give him the sting on the evening. Azeez is hard and a handful for anybody on the market so Buatsi will should be on the prime of his sport.
50. Tyler Denny (European middleweight champion) – I’ve modified my thoughts a number of instances however suppose Buatsi wins on factors. Dan has momentum however I believe Joshua will win.
51. Mark Dunlop (Manager/promoter) – I believe Joshua Buatsi will win a transparent factors determination over Dan Azeez. While Buatsi has been inactive he has the superior pedigree and whereas Dan will attempt to shut the hole early on, it will likely be a spot too far to shut.
52. Ryan Garner (Super-featherweight) – I believe it’s going to be a detailed combat. Azeez is a difficult opponent, however Buatsi is a well-schooled and I believe he’ll win by determination.
53. Junaid Bostan (Super-welterweight) – Buatsi factors in a really aggressive combat.
54. Joe McNally (Trainer) – Buatsi late stoppage rounds 7-10. Azeez is without doubt one of the UK’s most improved fighters over the past 18 months, however Buatsi’s novice pedigree and harder opposition will stand him in good stead for this combat. The pictures Dan took in opposition to Thomas Faure, a non-puncher is a fear going into this combat, therefore Buatsi late TKO.
55. Ekow Essuman (Welterweight) – I’ve seen the canine in Buatsi while on Team GB. That appears to have been saved on a decent leash as a professional, however I believe Azeez is the right opponent to convey that out of him and Azeez is a beast. Whoever desires it essentially the most goes to see the ultimate bell.

Result: Buatsi 40 votes, Azeez 11 votes, undecided 4 votes.

And for much more business predictions collected by BN click on the video under.