Buatsi vs. Azeez Bout Postponed Due to Back Injury: A Clash of Undefeated Rivals
In an unexpected turn of events, the highly anticipated showdown between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, scheduled for Saturday, October 21, at The O2 in London, England, has been postponed. This all-British boxing clash has been delayed due to a back injury suffered by Dan Azeez during his final training session, rendering him unable to compete as advised by medical professionals. Expressing his disappointment, Dan Azeez said, "I'm devastated for this to happen on fight week. It still hasn't sunk in. I've never had to withdraw from a fight in my career before." He went on to extend his apologies to the fans, particularly those who had made travel arrangements, his opponent Joshua Buatsi, his promoter, and all those involved in organizing the event. Azeez expressed hope that the fight can be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. This bout, which was set to feature two friends turned rivals, is expected to find a new date for the showdown. BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom, in response to the unfortunate turn of events, stated, "This is a big shock, but everyone at BOXXER is working very hard to ensure we provide clarity for all fighters, teams, and most importantly, the fans as soon as we can. I know that Dan would do anything to be in the ring on Saturday night, and for this to happen at this stage is devastating." Shalom emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of the fighters, acknowledging that this was a significant fight for British boxing. He expressed his sympathy for both Dan and Joshua, who had undergone rigorous training camps, as well as the fans, with over 10,000 individuals having made arrangements to attend the event. An update on the rest of the fight card and a revised date for the rescheduled Buatsi vs. Azeez match will be provided soon. Joshua Buatsi, hailing from London and originally from Accra, Ghana, boasts an undefeated record of 17-0 with 13 knockouts. In his most recent bout in May in Birmingham, he secured a unanimous decision victory against Pawel Stepien. Meanwhile, Dan Azeez, also undefeated with a record of 20-0 and 13 knockouts, won his previous fight in July in Verbania, Italy, via a points decision against Khalid Graidia. This followed his impressive 12th-round stoppage of Thomas Faure in March in Paris. Both fighters are eager to secure their first respective world title shots in the future.
