Joshua Buatsi loses unbeaten record – and WBO interim world title – as Callum Smith prevails in Riyadh blockbuster

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Joshua Buatsi lost his WBO interim world light-heavyweight title on Saturday night as he was outpointed by Callum Smith in a thrilling encounter.

The Croydon fighter, 33, suffered the first defeat of his career as he was on the wrong end of a unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Buatsi (19-1) had claimed the interim belt with a split decision verdict over Willy Hutchinson at Wembley Arena in September.

But Liverpool’s Smith (31-2), a former WBA world champion at super-middleweight, won by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 119-110.

Smith told iFL TV: “I’m pleased at the result, I think I proved a lot of people wrong tonight.

“I thought it (the 119-110 scorecard) was a little harsh on Josh Buatsi. When it got announced I kind of knew I’d won, because there was no way he had won that wide.

“I always felt I was ahead but it was always competitive. There were times when I felt I was starting to turn the screw, then he’d rally and get himself back into it.

“It was a tough fight. I took some shots and he took some shots.

“The two people who have beaten me have put me on the back foot. People don’t realise I’m a very good inside fighter. I knew in that type of fight I would come out on top.

“I felt I beat him at range with the jab but up close I just shortened my shots up. It’s probably made it a better fight.”

Smith could be seen exchanging words with a member of Buatsi’s entourage afterwards in the ring.

He said: “At the weigh-in his team were shouting over: ‘He’s damaged goods’. It is a bit disrespectful. I know you want to hype your man up, but we had a young fighter lose his life a few weeks ago.

“He came in the changing room to watch me get my hands wrapped and just made a few comments.

“I just thought he was a bit of a tit, to be honest with you. But I bit my lip. Afterwards he said: ‘Ah, I’ve got to s*** talk a bit’. But I said: ‘There is s*** talk and then there is being a tit’. And it backfired because I think he was the one that was damaged goods.”

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