Fight Week: Joshua Buatsi to face Dan Azeez in key 175-pound bout, Conor Benn also in action

FIGHT WEEK

Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez are scheduled to face off in a pivotal 175-pound struggle on Saturday. On the identical day, in Las Vegas, 147-pound contender Conor Benn returns in opposition to Peter Dobson.

JOSHUA BUATSI (17-0, 13 KOs)VS. DAN AZEEZ (20-0, 13 KOS)

Date: Saturday, Feb. 3
Time: 3 p.m. ET / midday PT (primary occasion later in present)
The place: OVO Area Wembley, London
TV/Stream: Peacock
Division: Gentle heavyweight (175 kilos)
At stake: No main titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Buatsi 3½-1 favourite (common of a number of shops)

Additionally on the cardboard: Adam Azim vs. Enoch Poulsen, junior welterweights; Caroline Dubois vs. TBA, lightweights
Background: Unbeaten 175-pounders Buatsi and Azeez might be preventing for the fitting to face WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol, though the winner might need to attend till after a possible title-unification bout between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Buatsi, 30, is a proficient 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who has remained good as an expert however has but to face an elite opponent. The Ghana-born Londoner is coming off a unanimous choice victory over Pawel Stepien on Could 6. Azeez is a good friend and former stablemate of Buatsi. The 34-year-old from London additionally has constructed his document in opposition to second-tier opponents. He final fought on July 15, when he outpointed journeyman Khalid Graidia in an eight-rounder. The Buatsi-Azeez struggle, initially scheduled for October, was postponed after Azeez suffered a again damage.
Prediction: Buatsi KO 10

CONOR BENN (22-0, 14 KOs)VS. PETER DOBSON (16-0, 9 KOS)

Date: Saturday, Feb. 3
Time: 3 p.m. ET / midday PT (primary occasion later in present)
The place: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Welterweight (147 kilos)
At stake: No main titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Benn 8-1 favourite (common of a number of shops)

Additionally on the cardboard: Austin Williams vs. Connor Coyle, middleweights; Johnny Fisher vs. Dmytro Bezus, heavyweights
Background: Benn, a 147-pound contender, might be preventing for the second time since he examined constructive for a banned substance and was suspended within the lead as much as his now-canceled showdown with rival Chris Eubank Jr. final yr. The 27-year-old from Essex has but to regain his boxing license within the U.Ok. He returned in September from a 17-month layoff, simply outpointing Rodolfo Orozco in Florida. Dobson, 33, is an unbeaten New Yorker who might be stepping up in school when he faces Benn. And he’s coming back from an extended layoff. Dobson final fought in June 2022, when he outpointed journeyman Rodrigo Damian Coria in an eight-round 154-pound struggle.
Prediction: Benn UD

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

Angelo Leo vs. Mike Plania, featherweights, Plant Metropolis, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

Ashton Sylve vs. Estivan Falcao, lightweights, Orlando, Florida (DAZN)
Quashawn Toler vs. Vlad Panin, welterweights, Houston (DAZN)