Joshua Buatsi

Early Life and Amateur Career

 

Joshua Buatsi was born on March 14, 1993, in Accra, Ghana, and moved to the UK at a young age, settling in Croydon, London. Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Buatsi found boxing as a means to channel his energy and stay out of trouble. His early boxing career began at the South Norwood and Victory Youth Center, where he quickly demonstrated his natural talent and dedication to the sport. Buatsi’s amateur career took off when he won the English National Championships in 2014, which was a significant milestone that marked him as one of the top prospects in British boxing. In 2015, he solidified his reputation by winning the ABA Championships, further proving his prowess in the ring. His skill and determination caught the attention of the national selectors, leading to his selection for the Great Britain boxing squad.

 

One of Buatsi’s most notable achievements as an amateur came in 2016 when he represented Great Britain at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Buatsi’s Olympic journey was impressive and filled with notable opponents. In the preliminary rounds, he showcased his talent by defeating Elshod Rasulov of Uzbekistan on points. He then went on to dominate his next opponent, Kennedy St-Pierre of Mauritius, winning by a unanimous decision. Buatsi’s performance continued to shine as he faced Algeria’s Abdelhafid Benchabla in the quarterfinals, securing another unanimous decision victory. His semi-final bout was against Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov, where Buatsi put up a valiant effort but ultimately lost, earning a bronze medal for his efforts. This Olympic success was a testament to his hard work and skill, marking him as one of the top light heavyweight amateurs in the world.

 

Professional Career

 

Joshua Buatsi’s professional career began on July 1, 2017, with a dominant performance against Carlos Mena at The O2 Arena in London, where he secured a second-round TKO victory. This marked the start of a rapid ascent in the light-heavyweight division. Buatsi continued to build his reputation with a series of impressive wins, including a fifth-round TKO against Baptiste Castegnaro on September 1, 2017, and a second-round TKO against Jordan Joseph on February 3, 2018, both showcasing his power and skill.

 

Buatsi’s first significant title came on July 28, 2018, when he defeated Andrejs Pokumeiko by first-round TKO to win the vacant WBA International light-heavyweight title. He defended this title multiple times, with notable victories including a first-round TKO over Tony Averlant on October 13, 2018, and a first-round TKO against Renold Quinlan on December 22, 2018. Buatsi’s relentless performance continued as he captured the vacant British light-heavyweight title with a third-round TKO against Liam Conroy on March 23, 2019.

 

His successful streak continued as he defended his WBA International light-heavyweight title, achieving significant wins against Marco Antonio Peribán with a fourth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden on June 1, 2019, and a knockout victory over Ryan Ford on August 31, 2019, at The O2 Arena in London. Buatsi further cemented his dominance with a TKO victory against Marko Calic on October 4, 2020, and another TKO win over Daniel Dos Santos on May 15, 2021. Buatsi’s upward trajectory saw him facing tougher competition, including a significant win against Ričards Bolotņiks on August 14, 2021, with an eleventh-round TKO. He continued his unbeaten run by defeating Craig Richards by unanimous decision on May 21, 2022, at The O2 Arena in London. On May 7, 2023, Buatsi secured another unanimous decision victory against Pawel Stepian at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, maintaining his perfect record.

 

The pinnacle of Buatsi’s career came on February 3, 2024, when he faced Dan Azeez at the OVO Arena in London. In a highly anticipated bout, Buatsi showcased his skill and determination, winning by unanimous decision and capturing both the British light-heavyweight title and the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title. This victory solidified Buatsi’s status as a top contender in the light-heavyweight division, further enhancing his impressive professional career record of 18 wins, 0 losses.