Joshua Buatsi faces a stern test this weekend when he faces Dan Azeez, but the Croydon light-heavyweight can enter the bout with an endorsement from a legendary fighter.
Unbeaten and pursuing a world title at 175lbs, Buatsi needs to impress against Azeez and Andre Ward is backing the 2016 Olympian to do well.
Like Buatsi, Ward was trained by Virgil Hunter, and he keeps an active interest in who his former mentor is developing.
Together, Ward and Hunter achieved many honours in the boxing ring and the former two weight world champion likes what he sees in Buatsi.
"He's a great listener. There's not a lot of fighters today at all different ages that actually have great work ethics and live like fighters, but he's that guy. So, I just appreciate that about him,” said Ward when speaking on Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast.
"So, he's got to continue to win. He's obviously got to continue to sharpen up his style and become more fluid in his approach, but I've seen a lot of growth in him.
"I've seen a lot of great things in sparring when I went to check him out and I'm just excited for his fight that's coming up."
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