Joshua Buatsi wins WBA title eliminator, sets sights on Dmitry Bivol

Joshua Buatsi took a big step towards a shot at the light heavyweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over English rival Dan Azeez on Saturday at the OVO Arena, Wembley, London.

Buatsi had scores of 116-110, 117-109 and 117-109 in an elimination match for the WBA world light heavyweight title, held by Dmitry Bivol. Buatsi, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, also won the British and Commonwealth titles ahead of Azeez after showing greater precision and ambition.

Azeez was knocked down twice in the 11th round, but he maintained both were slips. Regardless, Buatsi was a worthy winner after holding off a spirited finish from Azeez.

“He pushed me every round,” said Buatsi, who had a 152-72 advantage in power shots, according to CompuBox statistics. “Our pride was on the line. He made me fight every second. He will give everyone a tough fight.”

Buatsi (18-0, 13 KO), 30, originally from Ghana and moved to Croydon in south London with his family when he was 9, began the fight as the No. 1 contender to two of the global governing bodies. Saturday's victory keeps him at the front of the queue among light heavyweight contenders to challenge for world titles.

Buatsi will, however, have to wait for his opportunity. Bivol is booked for a June fight against fellow Russian and rival champion Artur Beterbiev, who holds the WBC, IBF and WBO belts, to determine an undisputed champion.

Azeez (20-1, 13 KO), 34, from Lewisham, went into the fight ranked No. 2 by two world governing bodies and No. 3 and 4 by the other two. He still has big fights ahead of him despite his first professional defeat.

“He was simply the better man tonight,” Azeez said. “He’s a great athlete.”

Both hail from South London and have been competing against each other for over a decade, and they canceled each other out in the first round on Saturday.

Buatsi, who had American trainer Virgil Hunter in his corner, picked up his pace in the second round and landed some quality punches, including a few right uppercuts.

Azeez, who won the European title with a final round stoppage victory over Thomas Faure in France last year, looked to launch his attacks from a low, crouching position and dropped a short right hand on Buatsi towards the end of the second.

After a rather fast start, the two men opened up in the last 20 seconds of the third round.

There were more significant exchanges in the fourth round, and Buatsi was more fluid with his punches, the best being a long left hand that knocked Azeez's head away.

In the fifth, both fighters succeeded within seconds of each other. Buatsi landed a left hook to the jaw, but Azeez responded with a left hook of his own.

Buatsi finished a strong fifth, and in sixth he dictated the pace. Azeez couldn't disrupt Buatsi from his smooth rhythm, and in the eighth, Buatsi's jab was particularly impressive.

But in the ninth, Azeez applied the necessary pressure to salvage some runs. Azeez was doing well again in the 11th but was counted out when he looked to slip to the canvas. Then, at the bell, referee Bob Williams gave Azeez another count when Buatsi landed a right and Azeez was knocked down. Azeez felt that both counts should have been mistakes.

Azeez went for the knockout in the final round, but Buatsi was too skilled and landed a series of heavy punches with 30 seconds remaining. Azeez avoided another knockdown, but in the end he knew the decision was Buatsi's.

There were two notable fights on Saturday's undercard:

• Adam Azim made his first successful defense of the European welterweight title after Enock Poulsen dislocated his shoulder and the fight was stopped in the fifth round.

Azim (11-0, 7 KOs), 21, of Slough, won every round until the stoppage, but without threatening to stop Poulsen (14-1, 5 KOs), 31, born in Zambia and based in Denmark.

Azim's hand speed caused Poulsen problems early, but Poulsen tightened his guard in the third round to limit Azim's success.

Azim was firmly in control when Poulsen dislocated his right shoulder while throwing a punch in the fifth round. Poulsen immediately turned around and got down on his knees and was counted out.

• English boxer Caroline Dubois looked set to take on one of the biggest names in boxing after posting clean sheets to defeat Miranda Reyes and stay in the world title race.

Dubois (9-0, 5 KOs), 23, dominated Reyes (7-2-1, 3 KOs), 22, from start to finish and opened a cut with a left hand in the sixth round.

Tougher tests for major belts are on the horizon for Dubois, but she won't face lightweight world No. 1 Katie Taylor next. Taylor is in talks to face Chantelle Cameron in an upcoming trilogy fight.