Top South London heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards to clash on May 21

South London light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Craig ‘Spider’ Richards will face each other in a mouth-watering clash on May 21.

Matchroom Boxing promote both fighters and are set to announce the venue for the bout at a press conference tomorrow.

Joshua Buatsi will face former World Title challenger Craig Richards in a huge all London Light-Heavyweight clash on Saturday May 21, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Croydon’s Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) stopped Latvia’s Ricards Bolotniks in the 11th round of their WBA light-heavyweight world title eliminator on the third and final week of Matchroom Fight Camp in August.

The 29-year-old was set to face Russia’s former world title challenger Maxim Vlasov on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s rematch with Derek Chisora at the AO Arena in Manchester in December but the bout was called off after he suffered a hand injury.

Crystal Palace’s former British light-heavyweight champion Richards (17-2-1, 10 KOs) pushed WBA light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol all the way in his first world title attempt in May 2021.

He won the vacant WBA International strap with a sixth round stoppage of Poland’s Marek Matyja in October.

“Two London boys coming together, it’s going to be a huge night,” said Buatsi. “The light-heavyweight scene in this country is thriving and I’m glad that we are able to get one of the biggest fights made.

“The crowd are going to be in for a treat. I am coming to win and nothing else, I am sure Richards is doing the same. He had a close fight with Bivol so will want to make things straight, but I have other plans. Win well and then push on to the world title by any means necessary.”

“We’re two top tier fighters from the UK,” said Richards. “This is one of the biggest London domestic clashes for a long time. This is a very exciting fight for us both, but also one the fans will enjoy.

“Buatsi has got his plans and I’m sure he be well prepared, but nobody is going to stop me from fulfilling my destiny of becoming a world champion. He is a solid competitor and will be coming to win, but I am confident and believe I have the tools to get the job done. I proved myself at world level and I’m eager to prove that’s where I belong.”

“A big well done and thank you to Joshua and Craig for taking this fight, it’s exactly the kind of fight boxing should be making,” said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport chairman. “Two domestic light-heavyweights on the verge of a world title shot decide to put it on the line rather than wait in a queue, giving us a fantastic battle of London that can only be a thriller.”