Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez: Date, time, how to watch, background, more
Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez are scheduled to face off in a pivotal 175-pound fight on Saturday night in London.
JOSHUA BUATSI (17-0, 13 KOs)
VS. DAN AZEEZ (20-0, 13 KOS)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 3
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
TV/Stream: Peacock
Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Buatsi 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Adam Azim vs. Enoch Poulsen, junior welterweights; Caroline Dubois vs. TBA, lightweights
Background: Unbeaten 175-pounders Buatsi and Azeez will be fighting for the right to face WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol, although the winner might have to wait until after a potential title-unification bout between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Buatsi, 30, is a talented 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who has remained perfect as a professional but has yet to face an elite opponent. The Ghana-born Londoner is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Pawel Stepien on May 6. Azeez is a friend and former stablemate of Buatsi. The 34-year-old from London also has built his record against second-tier opponents. He last fought on July 15, when he outpointed journeyman Khalid Graidia in an eight-rounder. The Buatsi-Azeez fight, originally scheduled for October, was postponed after Azeez suffered a back injury.
Prediction: Buatsi KO 10
