Joshua Buatsi is aware of it’s “imperative” to beat Dan Azeez on February 3 to remain heading in the right direction for a world title shot, as he eyes the winner of the mooted Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol undisputed championship conflict.
Buatsi is dealing with Azeez, a pal and sparring companion turned rival, in a rearranged all-British battle on the OVO Area Wembley in an eliminator for the WBA light-heavyweight world title, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Buatsi and Azeez are every unbeaten and are first and second respectively within the WBA rankings for light-heavyweight contenders.
Talking to Sky Sports activities at his open coaching session forward of the battle, Buatsi agreed with the suggestion {that a} looming Beterbiev-Bivol bout for all the foremost titles made this battle with Azeez much more necessary for him.
“It’s imperative,” replied Buatsi.
“I’ve obtained good rankings with all of the governing our bodies so proper now at this level I can not make any errors.
“There’s no other way to say it, it’s very, very imperative. So we are almost there but we are not there yet.”
The all-British battle was postponed from its October date and subsequently rescheduled for February 3 after Azeez suffered a again harm in his ultimate coaching session.
The creating rivalry grew to become more and more bitter after that and, in a video name between the pair in December, when accusations flew, Azeez accused Buatsi of appearing like “a diva and a crybaby”.
Requested if the dynamic of the battle had modified, Buatsi stated: “Not really because I still know that I have to fight Dan. I know that. Hopefully we cross the line and we do fight. Have my feelings changed? Not necessarily.
“One factor I have not executed is return to observe the movies. I’ve seen little titles saying ‘oh, Buatsi’s a diva’ he is this, he is that, however I’ve no real interest in clicking and watching it. After the battle maybe I’d do, however proper now we’re combating in lower than two weeks.
“You can say anything you want about me, it doesn’t matter. But we’re going to fight in less than two weeks so that’s my mindset.”
Their confrontation although will proceed forward of the battle. On February 1 Buatsi and Azeez will participate within the first ever dwell version of The Gloves Are Off.
On the unique postponement, Buatsi did admit: “It was hard, I’m not going to lie to you.” However he harassed that “I’m over that”.
Buatsi added: “My trainers, my coaches thankfully they are experienced. We had to make some adjustments. There were two camps back to back, this has been my third one, so we had to make sure that certain things that we did or didn’t do, we did. It’s been different but it has been very good and I’m really looking forward to next Saturday.”
And on the battle itself, Buatsi merely declared: “It’s show time.
“It is time to see who’s No 1. There’s nothing else to do however to battle to see whose hand goes to be raised on the finish of it,” he added.
“That is all I’ve labored for and that is what I am wanting ahead to, so there’s not a lot to say. Within the subsequent week and a half there’s going to be loads of interviews, loads of media.
“I don’t know what to say to you guys. We are almost there. Let’s make sure the fight happens and then we’ll see what’s up.”
Watch Joshua Buatsi vs Dan Azeez dwell on Sky Sports activities on February 3