sport news Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards set for Battle of South London in 02 Arena ... trends now
For two fighters looking to take each other's heads off this Saturday night, Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards have quite a bit in common.
Both men discovered a love of boxing while growing up in Croydon. They both attended the same gym and worked with the same trainer. They fought in the amateurs and later sparred together. Now they square off under the lights at the 02 Arena this Saturday night with everything at stake.
This showdown has been labelled 'The Battle of South London' as an all-British dust-up where the winner will earn the bragging rights and go on to bigger and better things, with the loser sent back to the drawing board.
Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards (R) will face off in a 'South London derby' this Saturday night
Buatsi comes into the fight as the favourite after an unbeaten career with 15 straight victories
If this fight needed selling, Eddie Hearn only had to point to their domestic rivalry and his opening line in the first press conference was reminding fans that the pair have grown up a 'stone's throw away' from each other and know each other well. That certainly adds a bit of heat to the cooking pot.
It's fair to say this fight is one that many fighters avoid - especially when a world title fight is in touching distance at 175lbs in the light-heavyweight division. Both men deserve credit for putting their reputations and pride aside to get this one on.
Buatsi - who was born in Ghana before his family moved to the UK in Thornton Heath, south London - is already salivating at the prospect of this potentially-feisty bout.
The 2016 Olympic Bronze medal winner admitted it feels like two London football rivals going head to head - which adds 'spice' into the mix as they prepare to go to war.
Buatsi admits he is relishing his battle against fellow South London boy Richards, who boxed at the same gym as him
'A few people have said this is the Battle of South London,' he said recently in an interview with Sportsmail.
'Whether it's Richards or anyone else, it seems like a derby. If two London teams are playing each other, it's gonna be a great match. It adds a bit of spice to it.'
And these two have previous together. They are familiar with each other having shared a boxing upbringing at the South Norwood and Victory Club in Crystal Palace and gone on to fight at the 2014 English National Championships Preliminaries.
Buatsi came out on top with a unanimous decision over a three-round contest, though both men will pay little attention to that day having come on leaps and bounds since then.
Richards himself has questioned his rival's pedigree. Buatsi has blitzed past most of his opponents to go to 15-0 and is yet to face a significant challenge, while his upcoming opponent recently fought world champion Dmitri Bivol - who recently gained attention for beating Canelo Alvarez - and lost on
