Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith Preview & Prediction | Riyadh Season
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We have an all-English affair next on the Riyadh Season bill as Joshua Buatsi puts his WBO light heavyweight interim title and 100% record on the line against Callum Smith
When is Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith taking place?
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith is taking place on Saturday 22nd February, 2025
Where is Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith taking place?
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith is taking place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Fight Card
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol (Undisputed light heavyweight championship)
Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker (IBF heavyweight title)
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz (WBC middleweight title)
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Israil Madrimov (WBC junior middleweight interim title)
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith (WBO light heavyweight interim title)
Shakur Stevenson vs Floyd Schofield (WBC lightweight title)
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel (WBC heavyweight interim title)
Expected Ring Walk
UK – 7:00pm / USA ET – 2:00pm / USA PT – 11:00am
How To Watch Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith
UK – Sky Sports Box Office / US – DAZN
Joshua Buatsi: Olympian aiming to consolidate position at top of British pile
Joshua Buatsi (19-0) is getting used to fighting on massive shows and after winning the WBO interim light-heavyweight title at Wembley in September, he now gets to fight on this blockbuster card in Saudi Arabia. Buatsi has gradually built his 19-0 record and the former Olympian now looks ready for world level and this is a really good test of his credentials against somebody who has fought at the very top.
Callum Smith: Veteran keen to show he is still best of British at light heavy
Callum Smith (30-2) is coming off a TKO win in November against Carlos Galvan and the Scouser will have been delighted to get back to winning ways. In his previous fight, Smith was TKO’d himself by Artur Beterbiev in a world title fight in what was only his second career loss with the other coming against Canelo Alvarez. He has only ever lost against two of the best fighters of all-time and this will be a really good challenge for him against a hungry fighter on the way up.
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith Prediction
We have a classic all-British fight here and Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith could really steal the show with this one.
So much in this fight depends on what Callum Smith has left in the tank and whether his TKO loss to Artur Beterbiev just over a year ago has taken something out of him.
At the age of 34 and with the number of battles he has had at the very top, there is every chance that Smith could find it difficult especially if Buatsi can maintain and tempo that eventually breaks him down.
Buatsi has fought at light heavyweight for years but Smith only moved up from super middleweight in 2021 and that could well be a factor in this fight.
Buatsi has been training with Andre Ward ahead of this fight and any concerns about Smith being too good technically for him may be put to rest there.
The question is ultimately whether Buatsi can step up to world level. This is a level up for him and a win will put him in with a shout of a title shot.
We go back and forth on this one but we are leaning witn Buatsi. He is the natural at this weight, he has more gas left in the tank and while Smith has always been a classy operator, Buatsi can take this into deep waters and eventually get the victory.
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith: Joshua Buatsi to win
