Joshua Buatsi can beat Dmitry Bivol to be a world champion, believes Eddie Hearn.
The Matchroom head made the prediction on the DAZN Boxing Show in the aftermath of his light heavyweight fighter’s convincing win over Daniel Dos Santos at the weekend.
Buatsi has since been linked with a title fight against Dmitry Bivol, but while Hearn expects the Briton to become a title holder - maybe even this year - he urged a little caution.
“Joshua Buatsi is an incredible talent,” he explained.
“I really feel this guy is one of the best young talents in world boxing. It’s all about timing, when you bring a boxer through, when you’ve invested financially and emotionally, as a team.
“You want to get it 100% right when you take that leap. You want to do it now. Can Joshua Buatsi beat Dmitry Bivol? In my opinion, yes he can. And if you believe you can become a world champion, you should be looking to challenge them.
“But I believe with one or two more fights he will be an even bigger favourite to beat Dmitry Bivol. It’s very tempting. I can make that fight. Virgil Hunter [Buatsi’s coach] says one year, I’d like to squeeze that down a little bit.
“There’s many levels between Dos Santos and Bivol. We need to find someone in that level. Someone who’s just failed at world level, who is extremely tough. I think Buatsi should be looking to fight Bivol at the end of the year.”
Hearn then said when he expected to see Buatsi back in the ring, saying: “He’s very humble. Joshua Buatsi will be a world champ, and his next fight will be at Fight Camp at the end of July, early August.”