Joshua Buasti faces the toughest test of his professional career to date against London rival Craig Richards in an enticing light-heavyweight showdown tonight.
The dust is still settling after the 175lb division took centre stage earlier in the month, with Dmitry Bivol handing Canelo Alvarez a shock first defeat since his loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
Speaking at their press conference on Thursday, Buatsi insisted Richards will ‘pay the price’ for the hard work and dedication he put in during his camp.
‘The struggle during camp – I know how I want to perform and it’s time to show it,’ he said.
‘Camp was hard and someone else has to pay that price now. If my camp were to be based in Brazil, I’d be there for five months. The way life is now, I go anywhere I need to be to improve. It happened to be in California so that’s where I was. Wherever I have to be, that’s where I will be.’
Buatsi and Richards faced off during a tense chat filmed by DAZN this week, where the latter warned his rival: ‘Your ego is your downfall.’
Buatsi stressed that every professional boxer has an ego and said he would beat Richards after he ‘flicks the switch’.
‘There’s always people to prove wrong,’ he added. ‘Spider says what he wants to say, but we’re two days away from the fight, so talking is done. We’ll find out on Saturday. The switch hasn’t flicked yet, but we’re days away and the switch will definitely flick.
Every boxer has an ego. No one wants to lose. I win by being myself. You can look at the stats, and say “this is what he usually does”. But I am gonna bring it and that’s how I fight. If I can take him out, I will.’
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Richards insists he meant no disrespect over his ‘ego’ remarks and believes he is the ‘best fighter in the division’ who has the ‘tools’ to hand Buatsi his first loss.
‘I’m a character who says what I want to say, when I want,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t being rude, I just said my opinion. That’s how I felt, I voiced my opinion. It wasn’t disrespecting his amateur career.
‘It’s not personal to Josh – I just believe I’m the best in the division. I can adapt to fighters and I have the IQ and the ability. Whatever tool I need from the toolbox, I will use it to get it done. I have the ability to beat anyone.
‘I do believe I will be victorious or I wouldn’t be here. All the fights I’ve taken put me in good stead, learning week in week out, and I can show what I’m learning and how good I am.’
