Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez’s eagerly awaited light heavyweight fight has hit an unexpected snag. BOXXER announced the postponement of their match, originally slated for Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena, due to a back injury Azeez suffered in training. The new fight date remains undetermined, but existing tickets will be honored, with full refunds available for those who can’t attend the rescheduled event.
Azeez voiced his disappointment, saying, “Withdrawing from a fight is a first for me. I deeply regret the disappointment caused to fans, Joshua Buatsi, our promoter, and everyone involved.” The match was set to air on Sky Sports, with streaming on NBC’s platform, Peacock, as part of a new deal with BOXXER.
BOXXER’s founder and CEO, Ben Shalom, responded to the situation: “Our focus remains on the wellbeing of the fighters. Our priority remains the health of the fighters. We’ll provide updates on the rest of the card and the rescheduled Buatsi-Azeez date soon.”
The bout held significant stakes in the boxing world. Buatsi, eyeing the WBA light heavyweight champion title, is the top-ranked contender, while Azeez closely follows in second place.
Image Credit: Sky Sports