Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, two light-heavyweights, will put their friendship aside to compete on October 21 at London’s O2 Arena.
With the WBA, Buatsi, 30, is ranked #1, while Azeez, 33, is ranked second.
Both of the unbeaten Londoners got their start in boxing at the same amateur boxing club in South London, and have remained friends since despite being rivals in the ring.
Although we have been friends for a long time, Buatsi added, “Too much is at stake for any of us to say no to this battle.”
The bronze medalist from the 2016 Olympics, who has triumphed in all 17 of his professional contests, said, “We may be friends again later, but on October 21 it’s all business.”
Azeez’s career has followed a drastically different route after beginning at local events, but he is also unbeaten with 20 consecutive victories. He remarked, “There’s still more to earn and prove. I’ve earned my way to this point in my career. I’m training as I usually do because this fight will take me one step closer to the top and it means a lot to me.”
