All the details you need to watch the Joshua Buatsi vs Ricards Bolotniks title fight
'Just Business' vs 'The Lion'
BBN have provided viewers with all the details needed to tune in and watch Joshua Buatsi (14-0, 12KOs) clash with Ricards Bolotniks (18-5-1, 8KOs) on the 226th day of the year.
All the details you could possibly need to watch the entire Fight Camp Week Three event below:
Date
The bout takes place on Saturday, August 14.
Venue
The Matchroom Sport HQ in Brentwood, Essex.
Rounds scheduled
12x three-minute rounds at light-heavyweight (175lbs).
Titles
Buatsi makes a seventh defence of his WBA International light-heavyweight title, the contest also doubles up as a WBA World title eliminator.
Ringwalks
The ringwalks for the main event are expected from 10pm UK time, but that will depend on the undercard results.
Start Time
Before The Bell starts at 5:30pm on Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel and Facebook page, with the first two fights on the card being broadcast live.
Then the Fight Night Live action on DAZN starts at 7pm.
TV Coverage
Coverage will be shown exclusively on DAZN and you can sign up here
Live Stream
You can watch online via the DAZN app
BBN are providing LIVE updates on the night HERE
Price
The event is free to DAZN subscribers, which costs it's members just £1.99 per month.
Undercard Highlights
Undefeated Michael McKinson (20-0, 2KOs) makes the first defence of his WBO Global welterweight title to once-beaten Polish puncher Przemyslaw Runowski (19-1, 5KOs).
British fight fans will remember the 27-year-old Central European, known as 'Kosiarz', from his valiant effort against Josh Kelly in 2019, where he took the Olympian the distance despite suffering three knockdowns.
Portsmouth's McKinson is called 'The Problem' for good reason – he is tricky southpaw who doesn't give much away. He hasn't scored a stoppage for almost four years and his last six wins have all gone the 10-round distance, but he has scored three first-round knockdowns in a row, and will be hugely incentivised by that.
McKinson is currently ranked fourth with the WBO, with superstars Mikey Garcia; Shawn Porter; Vergil Ortiz ahead of him, as well as reigning champion Terence Crawford – all potential fights in the future for the rising star!
Related Articles
Everything you ever need to know about Buatsi-Bolotniks can be found HERE
Background
August 14 will see the conclusion of Matchroom's successful Fight Camp series, which kicked off their game-changing global five-year deal with DAZN in the UK.
Ranked in the top 10 with all five governing bodies, Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Joshua Buatsi makes a seventh defence of his WBA International title to latest chalenger Ricards Bolotniks, who comes in fresh from his Golden Contract tournament triumph.
'The Latvian Lion' upset Brits Steven Ward (12-0 at the time) and Tyson Fury's cousin Hosea Burton (25-1 at the time) to reach the Golden Contract final in December last year. In the final, he gave German Serge Michel (11-1 at the time) a count in the fifth round and a knockdown in the 10th, which prompted his corner to throw in the towel. His fantastic tournament run saw him defeat three top opponents with a combined record of 48-2.
He is the reigning WBO European light-heavyweight champion riding on a seven-fight winning streak presently. Three of his defeats and one draw came within his first two years and eight contests of his career, but has only lost twice in his last 16 contests.
Croydon's Buatsi is a big star in Britain after his success as an amateur and his star quality in and out of the ring. The university graduate stopped four of his first six opponents within his first year in the pro ranks, then won WBA International title in just his seventh contest which sparked a run of three first-round KO wins. He then won the British title to go 10-0 in March 2019.
He has stopped his last nine opponents and could take that double figures if he can conquer Ricards inside the distance, who has been stopped three time before. However, the Latvian is in-form right now and full of confidence with his recent run of fine victories, to set up a fantastic fight with unbeaten Buatsi.
Quotes
Buatsi: “I’ve said it before we can go into there to box, with a strategy, but sometimes you’re going to have to fight, sometimes the tactics will go out the window and it’s man against man. We’ll see what happens and how it goes, but I’ll be prepared, I’ve covered all aspects, I’m ready.”
Bolotniks: “I wanted this fight straight after the Golden Contract, and now I’m here and I’m so happy. I’m ready for Saturday, and I am only here for the victory. Buatsi is a big star here and a good boxer. He’s strong and tough, and I want a street fight with him. In Latvia I was always fighting on the street. Boxing is more professional, but I want a war and I’m sure me and Buatsi will have a massive fight.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson,BBN Editor: “It's interesting that these two are ranked 11 and 12 with BoxRec right now, so it is a real test for 'JB', finally!
“Bolotniks is enjoying a good run of results right now, his career has really taken off in the last couple of years, with most of his defeats and draws coming early on in his career. His performances in the Golden Contract tournament were brilliant and he thoroughly deserved to win. You can tell he works hard to constantly improve and is driven by the need to support his family.
“Against Buatsi, I can't see him winning, however. I know that Buatsi's last fight was a bit of a 'No Contest' as Dos Santos was well overmatched and shouldn't have even been in there with him. Although some spectators saw weaknesses and worrying signs in the fight with Marko Calic, some scoring the fight in favour of Calic before the stoppage, I'm not so sceptical because it was a worthy opponent with an extensive background and good pedigree, so it was a good win, in my eyes. Perhaps people expected too much in that fight.
“Buatsi has never been taken past the seventh round and I think he'll continue that stat with a stoppage in the first half of the contest. If Bolotniks wants to trade and wade forward in a war, then I think Buatsi will cope well with that."
Rankings
Buatsi: WBC #4; WBA #2; IBF #3; WBO #7; IBO #8; BoxRec #11
Bolotniks: WBO #5; IBO #6; BoxRec #12
Stats
Buatsi
Age: 28
Bouts: 14
Rounds: 54
KOs: 85.71%
Height: 6' 2"
Bolotniks
Age: 31
Bouts: 24
Rounds: 128
KOs: 33.33%
Height: 6' 1"
Official Weights
Buatsi: 174 3/4 lbs
Bolotniks: 174 1/2 lbs
Full weigh-in results HERE
Betting Odds
Buatsi: 1/7
Bolotniks: 11/2
Draw: 25/1
Interesting Fact
Joshua Buatsi graduated with a 2:1 university degree in Sports Science.
Running Order
5:30pm:
#1
Zelfa Barrett vs TBA
10×3 Super-featherweight contest
#2
Raymond Ford vs Reece Bellotti
10×3 Featherweight contest
7pm:
#3
Kash Farooq vs Luis Gerardo Castillo
10×3 WBC International Silver bantamweight title
#4
Hopey Price vs Claudio Grande
6×3 Super-bantamweight contest
#5
Michael McKinson vs Przemyslaw Runowski
10×3 WBO Global welterweight title
Chief Support
Joe Cordina vs Joshuah Hernandez
10×3 Super-featherweight contest
Main Event
Joshua Buatsi vs Ricards Bolotniks
12×3 WBA International light-heavyweight title
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