Buatsi-Azeez announced for October 21st in London

Featured image: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.

British light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez will face-off at London’s O2 Arena on October 21st, BOXXER have announced.

Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain also clash for the British cruiserweight title in the chief support.

Buatsi and Azeez put friendship aside in main event:

Azeez was ringside to witness Buatsi’s unanimous decision victory over Pawel Stepien in Birmingham three months ago.

The fight saw the Londoner return to the ring after almost 12 months out and was his first since penning a long-term deal with BOXXER and Sky Sports.

The pair embraced post-fight and were open to going head-to-head later in the year.

Reports suggesting the pair had agreed to a fight began to circulate earlier this month with promoter Ben Shalom confirming an agreement was in place on Sky’s ‘Toe2Toe’ Podcast.

After winning bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Buatsi has underwhelmed since entering the paid ranks.

A third-round stoppage of Liam Conroy saw him claim the vacant British light-heavyweight title but inactivity over the following four years has seen the 30 year old struggle for momentum.

The last two years of Azeez’ career pale in comparison, with the 33 year old picking up the British, Commonwealth and European titles in his previous six fights.

Azeez recently ran out victorious over eight rounds in Italy as he insists on staying active before the biggest fight of his career.

Buatsi laboured over ten rounds in his ring return versus Stepien in May. *Photo by Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER.*

Lawal-Chamberlain rivalry intensifies ahead of new date

Lawal will defend his British cruiserweight crown against fellow Londoner Chamberlain, four months on from when the two were initially set to meet.

Slated to fill the chief support slot to Lawrence Okolie versus Chris Billam-Smith in Bournemouth, Lawal withdrew two weeks before due to a dental injury.

The contest has now been rearranged to take place at the O2 Arena in October as the pair put their rivalry on the line at the second time of asking.

Further announcements regarding the undercard are set to follow in due course.

Locked in 😤 #LawalChamberlain | 21.10.23 | The O2 | @skysportsboxing @benjshalom @boxxer @HennessySports pic.twitter.com/D63fJ6nG9Z
— Isaac Chamberlain (@IChamberlain_) August 2, 2023