{"id":978,"date":"2021-08-15T11:41:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T11:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/?p=978"},"modified":"2021-08-15T11:41:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-15T11:41:52","slug":"buatsi-stops-bolotniks-in-wba-light-heavyweight-world-title-eliminator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/?p=978","title":{"rendered":"BUATSI STOPS BOLOTNIKS IN WBA LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
Joshua Buatsi vs Richard Bolotniks, WBA International Light-Heavyweight Title, Brentwood, Essex.\n14 August 2021\nPicture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing. \nJoshua Buatsi after his win.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
12 x 3 mins WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title Eliminator<\/strong>
JOSHUA BUATSI WTKO11 (2:08) v RICARDS BOLOTNIKS                <\/strong>
(Croydon, England)                           (Riga, Latvia)<\/strong>

Joshua Buatsi continued his march towards a World Title shot with a stunning 11th round knockout win over Ricards Bolotniks in their WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title Eliminator on the third and final week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex live worldwide on DAZN.

Last year\u2019s MTK Global Golden Contract winner represented the biggest test of Buatsi\u2019s career, but the Croydon man passed the test impressively as he maintained his unbeaten record, progressing to 15-0 (13 KOs). 

\u201cMost importantly I have to thank God for the victory, different fighters have different things that work for them, I made it clear to you lot that that\u2019s what works for me,” Buatsi<\/strong> told DAZN. “In my changing room I don\u2019t need to hear anything, don\u2019t tell me what I did in camp, tell me Josh is written in the bible. That\u2019s what gears me up when I walk down there, what\u2019s written in the bible.
 
\u201cI\u2019m grateful man, Bolotniks big credit to him he pushed me. I think he said Josh hasn\u2019t been past seven rounds before so after seven we\u2019ll see. I was there until 11 and landed a good shot. I worked every round, but I want to congratulate him \u2013 he\u2019s a good champion.
 
\u201cWhen I sat down, I said, ‘Buatsi who told you to empty the tank, you\u2019ve got six left?’ but I\u2019ve worked hard. You see in camp the sparring is hard man, big credit to my sparring partners they know who they are. I do a hard six run then a fresh one gets in so into the second half I said I\u2019ve been here: I\u2019ve done it before I\u2019ve been here many times in camp.
 
\u201cI\u2019ve got a great team, I\u2019ve got a promoter that believes in me, he\u2019s been pushing for fights like this because he knows I can do it. Tonight, I went out there and showed people I can do it, we just build from here.
 
\u201cWe all make sacrifices, I don\u2019t want to single myself out, everyone sacrifices to be where they want to be in life. For me, yeah, I sacrificed, I\u2019m always away from my family and I truly miss them but most importantly I want to get to the top. I feel like I\u2019m in the right team with the right people, I\u2019ve got a great promoter who gives me the opportunities I need. I\u2019ll keep sacrificing.\u201d

10 x 3 mins International Lightweight Contest<\/strong>
JOE CORDINA WKO1 (0:53) v JOSHUAH HERNANDEZ <\/strong>
(Cardiff, Wales)                          (Chicago, USA)<\/strong>

Joe Cordina blew away Chicago’s Joshuah Hernandez inside the opening round to progress to 13-0 (8 KOs) and continue his pursuit of a World Title opportunity. 

‘The Welsh Wizard’ was intent on causing damage from the opening bell, landing hurtful shots early on before dropping Hernandez with a stunning right hand that he never recovered from. 

\u201cChris Colbert went eight rounds with Hernandez and what I watched of it, it was quite a tough fight for him,” Cordina told Matchroom. “I watched that fight and a couple others of Hernadez and me and Tony came up with a game plan. We were going through in the changing rooms, and it came off a peach.
 
\u201cI had to prove a point, I said in an interview earlier in the week that I don\u2019t take criticism from people I wouldn\u2019t go to for advice. I don\u2019t really value many people\u2019s opinions so yeah, it\u2019s one of those things, you\u2019re going to get people criticizing and it\u2019s whether you take it onboard or not. A lot of people didn\u2019t take into consideration that I\u2019d been out the ring for 16 months, had an operation of my hand, we proved the point tonight and got him out of there early on.
 
\u201cI always look to just get the win, box, if the knockout is there, I\u2019ll take it. As soon as he threw his first jab, I knew he wasn\u2019t going to catch me with that, my sharpness of feet and head movement would get me out of trouble. I started putting my lead hand downstairs and whipping the right hand over the top and I caught him the first time, I knew he was a little bit wobbly. I didn\u2019t want to rush in and try and get him out of there straight away, I knew if I could catch him twice with it there\u2019s going to be a third time and I did exactly that. We got him out of there in great fashion.
 
\u201cI was watching Fight Camp last year and there was no crowd, but even when there wasn\u2019t a crowd it felt like there was a massive atmosphere. When I saw the first Fight Camp week at home, I thought, ‘oh my god I\u2019m fighting there in two weeks, it\u2019s going to be amazing’. I\u2019m glad that I\u2019m able to tick it of my list now. 
 
\u201cEddie watched me in York Hall in 2009 and said, ‘you\u2019re going to be a World Champion’. It\u2019s nice to hear that but I\u2019ve got to keep improving, keep pushing on and proving him right. I know I\u2019ve got the ability to be a World Champion very soon, but I\u2019ve just got to keep winning. I\u2019ve got the ability to mix it with any of them, it\u2019s just about taking those steps up the ladder to become a World Champion and that\u2019s what I plan on doing. Maybe have two weeks at home, go back to the gym and see what I want to do with Tony.
 
\u201cI know people say it but if you speak to my S&C coach and Tony this was probably one of the best camps I\u2019ve ever had. That\u2019s with the boxing, plus my S&C, everything just came together. Don\u2019t get me wrong I had to be at home for my new-born son but everything\u2019s coming together now. I\u2019m glad I got the win tonight in great fashion and now it\u2019s time to build on it.\u201d 

10<\/strong> x 3 mins WBO Global Welterweight Title<\/strong>
MICHAEL MCKINSON WUD10 (99-91, 99-91, 98-92) v PRZEMYSLAW RUNOWSKI<\/strong>
(Portsmouth, England)                                                    (Slupsk, Poland)<\/strong>

Michael McKinson avoided a potential banana skin in Przemyslaw Runowski as he outpointed the brave Pole after ten rounds of skilful boxing from the Portsmouth man.

‘The Problem’, now 21-0 (2 KOs), dominated on the cards to maintain his unbeaten record and retain his WBO Global Welterweight Title. 

\u201cI\u2019m happy, that was easier than I thought it would be, I didn\u2019t really get out of first gear,\u201d McKinson<\/strong> told Matchroom. \u201cI visibly hurt him a few times, but I boxed to instructions and got the win. To be fair I didn\u2019t think he won a round against me, but he was a tough guy. Him and his team were very confident beforehand, I liked the energy they brought all week, but I just had to show I was a level above, and I was a few levels above \u2013 I\u2019m happy.
 
\u201cThey keep giving me harder opposition, they keep telling me it\u2019s a step up and I\u2019m making it look easier and easier. What people forget is I\u2019m learning every day on the job as well; I\u2019m developing and who knows where I can be in a year or twos time. I\u2019m in a position where a lot of boxers dream of being in, all I can do it stay focused, keep learning and keep working my way to the top.
 
\u201cFirst time on the A side you know, not many people can say they\u2019ve boxed in Gibraltar and not many people can say they\u2019ve boxed in Eddie\u2019s back garden and done both this year. I can\u2019t moan or complain, I\u2019m really happy and blessed.
 
\u201c2021 and my career has just started, 21-0 and making it look easy. I really want to keep stepping up, keep challenging myself, keep having more and more tests. I\u2019m still learning but I\u2019m learning quick and finding it easy now. I want opponents that will make me step through the gears, a few times I hurt him there like I can punch, I don\u2019t need to, I boxed to instructions. I didn\u2019t really get out of first gear.
 
\u201cI believe I\u2019m the best 147 pounder in the country. I like Conor, I get on well with him, but if he can\u2019t get them two guys the Brooks or the Khans, I\u2019m always here. I\u2019ll fight whoever they give me, I\u2019ve never turned down a fight and that\u2019s a fact \u2013 I don\u2019t plan on turning down fights. I really do believe in myself, and I believe in my development as well. I\u2019m going to be going to the top I promise you.
 
\u201cI\u2019m really happy for Liam Taylor because he never really gets a fair ranking and he\u2019s a good fighter so I\u2019m happy he\u2019s got that opportunity. I\u2019m not far behind, I\u2019d like the winner, but I\u2019ll fight whoever makes sense and whoever my management team want to get me next \u2013 the answer is always yes. That guy there I just beat took Josh Taylor to points on short notice, he had a full camp against me, his team were so confident talking to me in the hotel.
 
\u201cLike I said, I make their confidence fade round by round, they don\u2019t call me \u2018The Problem\u2019 for no reason. I will carry on being a problem as I step through the levels as the opposition gets better, trust me.
 
\u201cJosh Kelly has got a lot of ability, he\u2019s a skilful fighter, I like Josh \u2013 even after the Avanesyan defeat I still think he\u2019s a top fighter. Florian Marku talks a lot doesn\u2019t he, he didn\u2019t know who I was a few months ago on social media on an interview, he said he didn\u2019t know who I was. At least they\u2019re talking about me now, let him prove himself because I don\u2019t think he\u2019s proved himself at a decent level yet, not saying he\u2019s not a good fighter, but he does need to prove himself as a fighter to be respected. Good luck to all of them, I wish nothing but the best for all my rivals, you know I\u2019m here and I\u2019ll fight anybody.
  
\u201cEven when we go back to proper arenas and stuff, wait till we get hundreds and hundreds of Portsmouth fans loud and proud. I\u2019ve got great support and it\u2019s always growing; I know there\u2019s a lot of people that didn\u2019t come today but when they\u2019re allowed everyone will see the Portsmouth fans.\u201d 

6 x 3 mins International Super-Bantamweight Contest <\/strong>
HOPEY PRICE WPTS6 (58-55) v CLAUDIO GRANDE<\/strong>
(Leeds, England)                          (<\/strong>Massa, Italy)<\/strong>

Hopey Price continued his ring education with a solid six round points win over Claudio Grande. The 21-year-old from Leeds was in control throughout and his dominance showed in the final round when he floored the Italian with the last punch of the fight. Grande made it to his feet but was defeated 58-55 on the referee’s card.

Price’s fifth win in the pro ranks sets up a showdown with Leeds rival Zahid Hussain (16-1, 2 KOs) on the huge Mauricio Lara vs. Josh Warrington 2 show at the Emerald Headingley Stadium on September 4.

\u201cIt was a good performance, considering I had six months outside the ring, which for a young prospect like me isn\u2019t ideal,\u201d Price<\/strong> told Matchroom. \u201cYou can spar as much as you want but it\u2019s not the same feeling as when you\u2019re under the lights. Now looking forward, I\u2019ve got Leeds in three weeks, that\u2019s put me in very good stead \u2013 you\u2019ll see the best of me in three weeks\u2019 time.
 
\u201cI remember Dave [Coldwell] shouting at me finish strong, finish strong, and he was just coming in \u2013 what we\u2019ve been working on in the gym \u2013 I felt like I was catching him with that shot all fight and he just walked onto it lovely at the end and he was gone.
 
\u201cI\u2019m not fighting these journeyman and people with losing records, that\u2019s a proper fight, he\u2019s 5-0, three knockouts, I\u2019m sure he wanted to be a star over there in Italy. He was coming to win and was defeated, I put a stop to that and gave him his first loss.
 
\u201cYou began to see it, it\u2019s been coming slowly but surely, now over the next year or so you\u2019ll see the best of me.
 
\u201cI feel like I\u2019m developing more as a fighter under Dave and more as a man \u2013 big thanks to Danny Wilson at Boxing Science, he\u2019s making me a lot stronger, and I think you saw it there in the last ten seconds. I\u2019m not just a young kid that people can walk through.
 
\u201cI want to go right to the top. I don\u2019t want to be a World Champion; I want to be a pound-for-pound star and Dave\u2019s the man to take me there. I\u2019ll keep listening, learning, developing and I promise you I will get there one day.
 
\u201cI think fighting in Leeds on September 4 shows the confidence and ability \u2013 and the confidence my team has in me \u2013 to take a fight like that three weeks before and coming through with flying colours, no injuries. I\u2019m ready to go in my hometown in front of 20,00 fans, I\u2019ll steal the show there 100%.
 
\u201cI\u2019m ready for Zahid Hussain, 100%, I was ready for it back in September and the magic man didn\u2019t turn up. So, we\u2019ll see this time if he comes and if he does, I promise Hopey Price will come out the victor.
 
\u201cI said it from my second pro fight, I believe there are levels to boxing and my boxing brain is one of the best in Britain. I believe I\u2019m levels above Zahid Hussain.\u201d

10 x 3 mins vacant WBC International Bantamweight Title<\/strong>
KASH FAROOQ WUD10 (100-90, 100-90, 100-91) v LUIS GERARDO CASTILLO<\/strong>
(Glasgow, Scotland)                                                   (<\/strong>Jiqulipilco, Mexico)<\/strong>

Kash Farooq showed off his wide repertoire of skills to get the better of Luis Gerardo Castillo and pick up the vacant WBC International Bantamweight Title.

The Mexican fighter never stopped coming forward but he had no answer for Farooq’s frequent bursts. Scores from the ringside judges were 100-90 x 2, and 100-91. 

\u201cI boxed to the game plan, that was it, you want to get in there and always entertain but I followed the game plan that was it,” Farooq<\/strong> told Matchroom. “I listened to my trainer, and he just told me to box, you couldn\u2019t get any footage of him, so I didn\u2019t know what he was about, I adapted on the night and did what I had to do.
 
\u201cI showed tonight the other side of me that can box as well. He\u2019s not world class but it\u2019s a different side of my boxing that I showed, he was tough and game. We didn\u2019t know what we were up against.
 
\u201cIf you let anybody hit you, they can punch, he had a bit of sting to his punches, but the name of the game is hit and don\u2019t get hit and that\u2019s what I did in this fight.
 
\u201cHe [Gerardo] can\u2019t speak and can\u2019t hear so it\u2019s something different, people were saying he\u2019s come to win, and this was going to change his life, these types of boys want to win but he was up against me so \u2013 I wanted to win as much as he did.
 
\u201cThese boys are coming from nothing, some of them grew up in poverty and it\u2019s a different lifestyle in Mexico \u2013 they fight for a living to make their lives better. It\u2019s either me or him and it wasn\u2019t going to be me today.
 
\u201cIt was another learning fight for me, and I\u2019ll progress again, it\u2019s something I picked up \u2013 for me it\u2019s just about developing and getting better. This is just another clinical performance by me.
 
\u201cMy job is just to fight, and they tell me what route they\u2019re going to go through. If I had a choice I\u2019d fight [McGregor] but it\u2019s down to them and they\u2019ll make the right decision for me.
 
\u201cHe wants to fight just like I do but he\u2019s got managers telling him what the best options are like I do as well. The next few weeks my managers are going to sit down with Eddie and discuss what the best options are and what route to go down \u2013 if it\u2019s that one next then I\u2019m more than happy to take it.
 
\u201cIt is a big fight for Scotland, me and Lee can sell out the SSE Hydro, if it\u2019s the right time and it has a good build me, we can do it. It\u2019s just me and him boxing each other.
 
\u201cFor me I\u2019ll take a few days off but it\u2019s back to training. When I\u2019ll really take some time off is when I call it a day and retire. Now I\u2019ve still got levels to progress, go back to the gym and work on things, it\u2019s a lifestyle in boxing and it a short career, you don\u2019t know when retirement is coming. For me I\u2019m going to put everything into boxing for the next few years of my life.\u201d

10 x 3 mins vacant WBA Continental Featherweight Title<\/strong>
RAYMOND FORD WTKO3 (0:39) v REECE BELLOTTI<\/strong>
(New Jersey, USA)                          (Watford, England)<\/strong>

Raymond Ford earned his first title in the pro ranks by stopping Reece Bellotti in three rounds to capture the vacant WBA Continental Featherweight crown.

The New Jersey youngster promised to steal the show ahead of his second fight in the UK and went some way to backing up his pre fight prediction by turning in a savage performance. 

The 22-year-old demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in US boxing as he took out Watford’s Bellotti with a quality attack in the third. 

\u201cIn the third round I was going to start to box and slow it down because I was throwing too many fast, hard shots to hurt him early,\u201d Ford<\/strong> told Matchroom. \u201cMy team told me to settle down because we had ten rounds to go and then he came on and ran into the shot. I knew if I didn\u2019t get him out of there when I had him hurt, he was just going to be a tough guy and keep coming forward. When I hit my shot, I had to get him out of there.
 
\u201cIt feels great, one of my dreams that came true, the real dream and goal is to get to these World Championship titles.
 
\u201cI knew that he [Bellotti] was kind of the bully and everything so I wanted to beat the bully in the fight. I heard a lot about his power, guys saying his power was up there at the top, I just wanted to show I can be a bigger bully and that\u2019s what I did.
 
\u201cI said yesterday that I was going to handle the pressure. I was just starting to warm up and settle in but the more the fight would have went, the more you would have seen me relaxed and be sharper. I was getting hit by some dumb shots but that was because I was warming up and getting a feel of everything \u2013 being back after five months.
 
\u201cI love it in the UK, all week people have been showing me love so I want to come back and fight here again. I want to be one the greatest to ever do it, not just in my division, I just want to be the best and go down as a legend.
 
\u201cIt\u2019s important to be patient but I feel like I have the skills and I was blessed with the talents I have where I can fight these top guys at a young age. I want to keep stepping up and get these tougher fights.\u201d

8 x 3 mins International Lightweight Contest<\/strong>
ZELFA BARRETT WRTD4 v VIOREL SIMION<\/strong>
(Manchester, England)         (<\/strong>Lehliu Gar\u0103<\/strong>, Romania)<\/strong>

Zelfa Barrett stopped Romania’s Viorel Simion in four rounds to potentially set up a rematch with Kiko Martinez later this year. The Manchester man dominated from the opening bell, forcing Simion back with hurtful shots that were landing at will. 

\u201cIt was good to get back out there, a long layoff since February, an active fighter is a god fighter,\u201d Barrett<\/strong> told Matchroom. \u201cAs you guys know, my mum passed away in June, so we\u2019ve had a lot going on. I wanted to just go in there and tear him apart, professionally, but they put the reigns on me. Sometimes I was eager to go and wanted to unload on him, but my uncle is the greatest coach, I just listened to what he was saying. He was taking punishment and he didn\u2019t continue the fight. I was putting more pressure on and letting my hands go.
 
\u201cIt\u2019s a thing of believing in yourself, I know I\u2019ve got the punch power and when you hit correct it hurts anybody. We were working on it with the body pad before we came out and the shots just landed, and he went down. The right body shot would hurt any man, so it was about following what I\u2019ve been practicing in the changing rooms \u2013 good performance after a long layoff.
 
\u201cThere are some good fighters on this card, I believe I\u2019m one of the best fighters in Britain aside your World Champions, I believe it and I believe in myself otherwise I wouldn\u2019t be here. That fight had to finish like that, if it went 8 rounds, I\u2019d have to be questioning myself as a fighter that\u2019s going to be world champion.
 
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t able to continue, he quit, no disrespect to him but he quit. Making a man quit is better than any knockout because his brain hasn\u2019t shut down, the ref hasn\u2019t jumped in, he\u2019s physically quit. Good little fight, good little stoppage.
 
\u201cI\u2019m doing it for myself because I want to be a successful man, that\u2019s all I want to be, believe in God and God will make that happen. I\u2019ve got more motivation, my beautiful daughter Amelia and my beautiful mum on me, my brother, and my cousin Wayne, I\u2019ve got three angels watching me. Onto the next one now and thanks to everyone for watching.
 
\u201cIt was better than nothing, I would love to be on about 8 o\u2019clock just looking out, it just brings something out of a fighter that you didn\u2019t think you had. I don\u2019t know, I just love it, you can\u2019t buy that, that feeling that you get, that\u2019s when I\u2019ve had my best performances when there are crowds, and I can feel their energy.
 
\u201cI\u2019d love that fight [Kiko] in Manchester, I respect Kiko as a person, he\u2019s a cool guy. He believed he won, I know I won, the judges thought I won. We can run it again because I want to, not because anyone else wants to, but because I want to. We can run that again and I\u2019ll look good doing it.
 
\u201cI\u2019ve just got to keep doing what I\u2019m doing, don\u2019t get me wrong the European Titles out there I\u2019d love to get, because you know you\u2019re ready for that jump. We can\u2019t cherry pick, Eddie\u2019s a man who gives you opportunities and you\u2019ve got to be ready. I\u2019d love a shot at the European, but now I\u2019m just going to rest, spend time with my beautiful daughter. Daddy\u2019s a champ and I\u2019m her champ, on to the next.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

12 x 3 mins WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title EliminatorJOSHUA BUATSI WTKO11 (2:08) v RICARDS BOLOTNIKS                (Croydon,<\/p>\n

Continue readingBUATSI STOPS BOLOTNIKS IN WBA LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[181],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/978"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=978"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":980,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/978\/revisions\/980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gosportsandentertainment.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}