AFTER a strenuous week in the friendship between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez each males gave the impression to be again on amicable phrases after battling each other final night time at The OVO Arena, Wembley.
Their British light-heavyweight title bout which doubled up as a ultimate eliminator for a shot at Dmitry Bivol’s WBA belt was engrossing from struggle week to struggle night time. After 12 rounds Buatsi was rightly awarded a unanimous choice protecting his unbeaten file, 18-0 (13), intact and transferring him one step nearer to dealing with elite competitors.
Buatsi vs. Azeez kicked off what probably may very well be one of crucial years in the historical past of the 175lbs division. And previous to final night time’s all-British affair, this was how the Boxing News light-heavyweight prime 10 (in affiliation with the Transnational Boxing Rankings) seemed:
CHAMPION: Artur Beterbiev
1: Dmitry Bivol
2: Joshua Buatsi
3: Anthony Yarde
4: Dan Azeez
5: Michael Eifert
6: Ali Izmailov
7: Malik Zinad
8: Oleksandr Gvozdyk
9: Albert Ramirez
10: Callum Smith
So, what would possibly the remaining of 2024 appear to be for the division? Boxing News has taken out its dusty crystal ball and gazed into the longer term.
While the main target of consideration was on Buatsi and Azeez final night time information emerged from Saudi Arabia that after June 1 one man will maintain all 4 belts.
As introduced by deal-maker Turki Alalshikh the date will see Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol struggle each other in Riyadh with Matchroom and Queensberry placing 5 of their greatest fighters towards each other on the undercard. Once once more, the monetary clout of the Middle East has snagged one more marquee struggle.
The Beterbiev-Bivol winner may have mandatories to fulfil which brings Buatsi into play. However, there may be one other potential consequence which may see one or all of the belts change into vacant. Beterbiev has talked of transferring to cruiserweight in the longer term and will he triumph, that could be a chance. Bivol however may reign for a prolonged interval if he wins however will he wish to deal with necessary challengers or checked out monetary pursuits as an alternative which brings ahead the super-middleweight division and a rematch with Canelo Alvarez or a showdown with David Benavidez.
Buatsi wouldn’t shrink back from preventing both of the highest two at 175lbs but when the WBA belt did change into vacant who would he face? At time of writing the highest 5 contenders with the sanctioning physique are Buatsi (necessary), Azeez, Albert Ramirez, Anthony Yarde and Richard Rivera.
Yarde and Beterbiev produced a light-heavyweight basic at Wembley Arena on January 28, 2023 (James Chance/Getty Images)
Yarde returns on February 10 towards 34-year-old Marko Nikolic. The Serbian will probably be Yarde’s first opponent because the proficient Londoner gave Beterbiev arguably the hardest struggle of his profession in January 2023. If as anticipated Yarde wins and wins large towards Nikolic, then the Buatsi-Yarde chatter will intensify.
Both will want a dance associate in the event that they fought once more this summer time, but when they selected to not then they could apply persistence and hope to slug it out towards each other for the WBA belt later in the 12 months or early 2025 ought to it change into vacant.
The heavy-handed Albert Ramirez could have one thing to say about that notably if he takes the quantity two slot in the WBA rankings from Azeez. The Venezuelan (ranked 9 with Boxing News) is unbeaten in 18 contests with 15 completed inside the space. Step-aside cash is an everyday negotiating time period in the enterprise of boxing and the 31-year-old former Olympian could settle for such a take care of the promise he would face the winner.
Dan Azeez, the now former European and British light-heavyweight champion, has confirmed himself not solely to be a succesful operator however a ray of gentle in British boxing. His story from Southern Area stage and small corridor exhibits to headlining in a high-profile struggle on Sky Sports is proof that the normal route nonetheless works. ‘Super’ Dan will return and will discover himself in one other large home conflict in 2024. Craig Richards or Lyndon Arthur would match the invoice.
Moving down the remaining of the Boxing News prime 10 at 175lbs we now have Michael Eifert, Ali Izmailov Malik Zinad, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Callum Smith.
Eifert, 12-1 (4), outpointed a effectively previous his prime Jean Pascal in Canada 11 months in the past. The German is now the IBF necessary challenger for Beterbiev’s belt however should shake off ring rust earlier than considering a step up in class. The 26-year-old was in the UK in the direction of the tip of final 12 months coaching at Ben Davison’s Performance Centre however is and not using a struggle date in 2024 up to now.
Dmitry Bivol catches Lyndon Arthur throughout their struggle in Riyadh. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Libyan-born Malik Zinad, 21-0 (16), made his face identified to Britain’s Lyndon Arthur in Riyadh in December. Arthur, who misplaced that night time 120-107 on all three playing cards towards Bivol as half of the Day of Reckoning was confronted by Zinad who advised the Mancunian he would knock him out in the event that they fought. Just like Eifert there was an absence of ring-time in Zinad’s profession. Two fights and two wins since 2021 towards Esequiel Osvaldo Maderna and Mickael Diallo may clarify his pursuit of Arthur.
The sole defeat on Oleksandr Gvozdyk’s file, 20-1 (16) got here towards Artur Beterbiev in October 2019. “The Nail” was hammered to the canvas by Beterbiev thrice in the tenth spherical earlier than the Russian completed him off in the identical session with seconds remaining. Afterwards it emerged Gvozdyk was forward on two of the three scorecards.
Gvozdyk, a 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, retired with out fuss from the game in June 2020. But in February 2023 he returned beating Josue Obando over six rounds earlier than testing his mettle towards Ricards Bolotniks three months later. The sixth-round stoppage urged there may be lots life left in the 36-year-old’s profession and has made it clear he desires a shot at Beterbiev or Bivol. His most up-to-date motion got here with a predicted early KO of Isaac Rodrigues on September 30. By the tip of 2024 it will be no shock to see Gvozdyk close to the highest of the pile.
Rounding off the highest 10 is Callum Smith, 29-2 (21). The former world belt holder at 168lbs had been eager to win extra {hardware} at 175lbs giving him the accolade of two-weight success on his résumé. Unfortunately, inactivity had been a thorn in his aspect earlier than dealing with Beterbiev in their rearranged bout final month in Canada.
Smith confronted Gilberto Castillo Rivera and Mathieu Bauderlique, respectively, in September 2021 and August 2022. Two fights he was closely fancied to win, and “Mundo” duly obliged with spectacular knockouts in the second and fourth rounds.
Against Beterbiev he jumped a number of ranges in opposition and confronted a person trying to make a press release. The champion was magnificent for the seven rounds that the struggle lasted. Since then, Smith has been linked to a struggle towards Anthony Yarde which by itself is a major occasion however may even be used because the chief assist to Beterbiev-Bivol in June.
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