Joshua Buatsi outscores Craig Richards in a close, exciting fight

South London pride and so much more was at stake in Joshua Buatsi vs Craig Richards, the Matchroom and DAZN main event at the O2 tonight. This was the epitome of a domestic rivalry with world-level implications. Crystal Palace’s Richards had already extended Dmitry Bivol in a WBA light-heavyweight title shot but his path to another crack would have to go through the unbeaten Olympic bronze medallist from Croydon.

Buatsi had done all that was asked of him thus far but rarely set the world on fire. This was crunch time for a 29-year-old ranked in the top six by all the major sanctioning bodies and who recently relocated to link up with celebrated trainer, Virgil Hunter, in California. Richards, having seen Bivol go on to upset Canelo, was determined not to serve as Buatsi’s route to the gold and came into this contest full of confidence. But it was Buatsi who proved the aggressor and dictated the pace for the most part, to earn the verdict in a gripping battle. He won with judges’ scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice).

Buatsi began with uncharacteristic urgency, cutting the ring off and unloading with Richards against the ropes. By contrast, ‘Spider’ was patient and picked his counters but found himself under pressure at the end of the opener. Buatsi remained the aggressor in the next and mixed it up to head and body, but Richards landed some jarring shots in a more competitive session. Buatsi landed the more telling blows in round three but his lack of head movement was a concern and he was open to the right hand of Richards.

I felt Richards edged the fourth with superior defence and smart counters. Buatsi continued to target the body and load up. The next was odd, with Buatsi hammering Richards against the ropes early, then backed off, presumably tired, and gave away the remainder of the round. Richards enjoyed success in round six but stood in front of Buatsi too often and the Croydon man connected with the heavier punches.

Craig made some spirited cameos in the seventh but was too reactive and needed to increase his output if he were to get back into things. Richards unloaded power punches on a reckless Buatsi in the next, pushing the pace late on as he had against Bivol. Buatsi fired back but this was Richards’ round; I had it 5-3 Buatsi. ‘Spider’ chants erupted in round nine and I thought the Crystal Palace battler took it with several rights over the top.

Richards knocked out Buatsi’s mouthpiece with a left hook in the 10^th but the latter roared back before the gumshield was replaced and had Craig a little wobbly. I tallied 6-4 at this stage. I thought Buatsi landed the cleaner shots in the next but held far too much. Richards needed a KO on my card. He did not appear to have the energy or impetus to get it but did win the final round. I scored an absorbing contest 115-113 or seven rounds to five, for Buatsi.

The undercard saw Chantelle Cameron retain two major 140lb world titles by clearly decisioning Victoria Bustos, Ellie Scotney dominating former long-reigning world champion Maria Roman over 10 and Alen Babic participating in a typically action-packed contest, putting himself in line for a Bridgerweight shot by outscoring Adam Balski.