Joshua Buatsi defeated Marko Calic to retain his WBA international light-heavyweight title on Sunday, and believes he broke his opponent’s jaw.
The 27-year-old Croydon fighter kept his undefeated record as he stopped Calic in the seventh round after dominating the latter stages of the match-up after weathering the early storm from the Croatian boxer.
Speaking after the fight, Buatsi said that he believed that he broke his opponent’s jaw during the fight.
"His jaw was broken," Buatsi claimed.
"In the third round I felt my swelling. I thought 'damn!' You do what you've got to do. He went southpaw so I looped the right hand. He hid it, but he was hurt. This guy said he was coming to burst the Buatsi bubble. I was here to defend it.”
Buatsi said that he had not underestimated his opponent, and explained that after more than a year away he prepared seriously for the event.
"People didn't know about him, the spectators and the public, but in our camp and within our team, we knew he was a good fighter. I was out for 400 days. We bit down on the gum shield and we got the win. This is a gentleman's sport, big credit to Marko Calic. I wish him nothing but the best. I wish him good health. Maximum respect to him.”
He then suggested that he was ready for a fight next year should any international titles be offered up.
"He came in and he gave me a good run for my money. I hope he gets home safely to Croatia. It was a hard fight but I learned. He didn't just come to make up the numbers. He was a good fighter, heading into our fight unbeaten. I couldn't see his right hands, I adapted. I dealt with it. If the World Title fight in 2021 opportunity is presented, and I've had the right fights, then absolutely."