Buatsi battles Stepien in BOXXER debut
Former British champion Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13KO) faces ex-Polish champ Pawel Stepien (18-0-1, 12KO).
The headlining bout at the Genting Arena, Birmingham, on May 6, will pit WBA #1 against IBF #4, unbeaten in 35 fights between them with 25 KOs.
From the city of Szczecin in Poland, Stepien shares many similarities with Buatsi. Both boxers competed in the World Series Boxing; Stepien was part of the Poland Hussars team, where he lost to one of the greatest amateurs of all-time, Julio Cesar la Cruz, a five-time world champion and double Olympic gold medallist who won over 260 bouts. He captained the Cuban Domadores and stopped Stepien in round three of five, back in 2013, two years before his pro debut. Pawel was able to match the Cuban in the first round, even landing a lovely lead straight right on the chin, but was battered in the second and finished early in the third.
Another likeness with Buatsi, is that he is world-ranked and unbeaten. He’s currently IBF #4, WBA #13, WBO #14, as well as being ranked in the top 30 with the WBC and IBO.
Now 32, Stepien won his first four fights by knockout, and within 10 bouts he had become a Polish International light-heavyweight champion with nine knockouts, six of those within rounds one and two. He became a Polish national champ by 2020 and an IBF Inter-Continental titleholder in 2021.
Trained by Jurij Wachitierow, he is well schooled as a Polish amateur champion and has replicated that by winning a national title as a pro. An IBF Inter-Continental belt shows he is above domestic level and being ranked in the top 15 with two governing bodies means he is closing in on world title opportunities.
Another interesting stat is that he has only fought two opponents without a winning record and has defeated four unbeaten fighters. But in Buatsi, he faces the hardest opponent of his professional career yet.
30-years-old from Croydon, “Just Business” won bronze at the 2016 Olympics and became British champion in his 10th fight.
Despite his inactivity, the last two fights would have done him the world of good. Stopping Ricards Bolotniks in round 11 also halted the Latvian’s impressive seven-fight win streak which included winning the Golden Contract tournament. And his last victory was his best yet, a 12-round unanimous points decision over world title contender Craig Richards.
Buatsi just has that little bit extra over Stepien – better amateur achievements, harder opposition, higher world rankings, he has more KOs in less fights and will get the home advantage on fight night, but his opponent is ranked in the top 15 with three governing bodies, so will deserve his respect when that first bell goes.
Betting Odds
Home fighter Buatsi is naturally the favourite to win at 1/10 with Betway, while visiting fighter Stepien is a 13/2 outsider. Odds for a draw are quite low at 14/1.
Predictions
Buatsi and Stepien may share some similarities, but Buatsi has fought at a higher level against greater opposition and achieved more during his career. A British title is obviously harder to win than a Polish one.
Despite being highly ranked, Stepien hasn't really proved himself that far above domestic level yet, whereas Buatsi is in pole position to fight for a world title.
Pawel is tough and won’t back down under pressure or give up without a fight, so he may take some breaking down. He has only managed one knockout within his last seven fights, which makes it difficult to envisage him stopping Buatsi, who has proven he can take a shot during his recent appearances. But he can also whack a bit himself…
Verdict: Buatsi to win via late knockout or on points.
