I feel like it’s inevitable – Joshua Buatsi expecting fight with Anthony Yarde

Joshua Buatsi believes a showdown against Anthony Yarde is “inevitable” and insisted he would prefer to face his London rival next over fighting for a world title.

Buatsi would welcome a bout against WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, with whom he shares a promoter in Eddie Hearn, after claiming a close but clear points win over Craig Richards last weekend.

Trainer Virgil Hunter was cool on such talk, suggesting his protege might need another test or two, and Buatsi would relish another derby occasion against Yarde after beating another Londoner in Richards.

The pair seem to have been on a collision course for a couple of years and while Yarde, who has won 22 of his 24 fights, is promoted by Frank Warren, Buatsi is sure they will face each other in the future.

Buatsi (16-0, 13KOs) told the PA news agency: “I feel like it’s inevitable, it’s going to happen but it’s just a matter of when.

“The styles that we both have, it makes people think ‘imagine if these two fought, whose style would come out on top?’ There’s that curiosity and interest about it.

“The Bivol association is primarily because we’re both promoted by Eddie Hearn. It’s an easier fight to make, that’s the fight we want. But if Yarde was offered next before Bivol, I’d definitely take that.

“That fight between myself and Yarde wouldn’t be next but if that was the situation then absolutely get us back in the O2 Arena (in London) to shake the place again.”

Buatsi celebrated his win over Richards in low-key fashion but will have a gathering with family on Sunday before next week visiting Ghana, where he was born and spent the first nine years of his life.

Now 29, Buatsi retains close ties with a country where he still has many relatives, whom he plans to