Top Matchroom prospect Joshua Buatsi returns to the ring after over a year away when he main events against Croatia's Marko Calic on Sunday in a battle for Buatsi's WBA International light-heavyweight championship.
Buatsi's last in-ring outing came in a seven-round stoppage victory over Canada's Ryan Ford at London's O2 Arena on Aug. 31, 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic further extended the Ghana-born Brit's absence from active duty after illness scrapped a bout set for last November, but he has every intention of making up for lost time.
“There is always something positive to take out of these situations," he said. "My body has rested when it needed to. There’s less battering, the grind against your body.
“I’ve stayed in the gym for as long as I can. I’m healthy, I’m fit. I’m strong, I’m good to go. It will be a bit awkward getting back into it, but once I’m in there with someone looking to take my head off, it’s time to fight.
“I still have to protect myself, and defend myself. I have to get to them before they get to you. That’s my mentality.”
Calic, meanwhile, is well aware of what halting the Buatsi hype train will do for his own career.
“Beating Buatsi would be huge for my career," Calic said. "It would make me well-known in the boxing community and open a lot of doors for me. ...
"I expect that Buatsi will come forward and take the fight to me. I will try to counterpunch him, but I will also be ready to fight fire with fire. My main focus is to do my best."
Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic fight date, start time
- Date: Sunday Oct. 4
- Time: 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET
The main card begins at 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET, with main event ringwalks expected around 10 p.m. BST/5 p.m. ET, depending on the runtime of the undercard contests.
Buatsi vs. Calic TV channel, live stream
- U.K.: Sky Sports Arena
- U.S.: DAZN
In the U.K., Sky Sports Main Event will also be carrying the Buatsi vs. Calic fight only.
In the U.S., the fight will be available on DAZN, the global sports streaming service. DAZN will also show the event in its other territories: Canada, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Brazil and Japan.
Where is the Buatsi vs. Calic fight?
The Buatsi vs. Calic fight will take place at Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England.Joshua Buatsi record and bio
- Nationality: British
- Born: Tema, Ghana
- Height: 6'2"
- Age: 27
- Total fights: 12
- Record: 12-0, 10 KOs
Marko Calic record and bio
- Nationality: Croatian
- Born: Pula, Croatia
- Height: 6'3"
- Age: 33
- Total fights: 11
- Record: 11-0, 6 KOs
Buatsi vs. Calic full card
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic, 10 rounds for the WBA International light-heavyweight title
- Chantelle Cameron vs. Adriana Dos Santos Araujo, 10 rounds for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title
- Alen Babic vs. Niall Kennedy, 8 rounds at heavyweight
- Aqib Fiaz vs. Kane Baker, 8 rounds at lightweight
- Linus Udofia vs. John Harding Jr., 10 rounds at middleweight
- John Hedges vs. Jan Arden, 4 rounds at super middleweight