Comments Thread For: Trainer Virgil Hunter on Buatsi: I Can't Honestly Say That He's Ready for Bivol or Canelo Right Now

[Get em up]

Buatsi loses bad to both Canelo and Bivol.

He's an OK fighter, but I doubt he'll go beyond the level of another Joshua. Joshua Clottey, I mean.

Spider Richard's gave him fits in spots. No way he beats Canelo or Bivol

[P to the J]

i think he'd beat canelo comfortably, maybe needs a couple more fights on fringe world level before fighting bivol/beterview i think hes better than he showed on saturday (although still won) and will have learnt a lot. i know people on here want to rush buatsi and see him lose cause they feel threatened by a confident black UK fighter but he can take another couple fights before fighting one of the top guys.

Interesting opinion, but what if (1) you’re already black and from the UK, and (2) unthreatened by confidence and still think he isn’t up to much?

He looked at a prospect a few years back and it may be that he does better elsewhere than against Richards.

Problem is he was technically woeful at times on Saturday, with some sloppy, wide hooks that will leave him open to serious hurt. On top of which the top and lower halves of his body were stationary throughout. His head, meanwhile, was rigid. Where’s the movement? He didn’t look much improved from a few years back IMHO

[JakeTheBoxer]

Not sure he is ready. Bolotniks and Richards are good wins, but these guys were a big step up in competition for him. I do believe he needs some fringe level guys.

[springfiels]

He needs to get much more active.. I agree he needs to be bought along carefully now with quality matchmaking, by that I don't mean protect him at all, but get him to 20 fights ASAP against the right opponents for Virgil Hunter to work with him.

Clearly not ready to step up to the elite, he needs some gatekeepers and live fringe contenders, in quick succession if his body allows.

Watching him Saturday tho, I gotta be honest, I think he'll struggle at championship level. Doesn't do anything elite, but is very good, and looks great in spurts.

[Corelone]

Interesting opinion, but what if (1) you’re already black and from the UK, and (2) unthreatened by confidence and still think he isn’t up to much?

He looked at a prospect a few years back and it may be that he does better elsewhere than against Richards.

Problem is he was technically woeful at times on Saturday, with some sloppy, wide hooks that will leave him open to serious hurt. On top of which the top and lower halves of his body were stationary throughout. His head, meanwhile, was rigid. Where’s the movement? He didn’t look much improved from a few years back IMHO

Buatsi got slapped around by Richards. He acted like he thinks he can take one to land one. He took 2 or 3 at a time and got rocked. More fights at this stage will only add to the wear, he's 29 and eating more leather than ever.

[Ragga1]

Virgil Hunter is a wise man and perhaps should be consulted on who Joshua Buatsi fights, before he’s ready to step up for a world title fight.

[Tatabanya]

Spider Richard's gave him fits in spots. No way he beats Canelo or Bivol

I had picked Richards to stop him, even lost money on the result

[Get em up]

I had picked Richards to stop him, even lost money on the result

I didnt bet on it but told a friend the odds were way too wide in favor of Buatsi. I like watching Buatsi fight and not hating on the dude but he has peaked and it doesnt look good for his career at his age. Bivol, Beterbiev, Average Joe and even Zurdo punishes him. We wont talk about Canelo or other fighters in or around 175.

[Madison Boxing]

Spider Richard's gave him fits in spots. No way he beats Canelo or Bivol

richards is a solid fighter, he'd beat canelo at 175 100 percent. dont know why people are talking about him as if he is some bum, a lot of posters were picking him to beat buatsi and now they are acting as if buatsi was exposed because he didnt knock him out in 1 round or some bull****

[P to the J]

Buatsi got slapped around by Richards. He acted like he thinks he can take one to land one. He took 2 or 3 at a time and got rocked. More fights at this stage will only add to the wear, he's 29 and eating more leather than ever.

Cheers for letting me know, because my ****** kept failing, so I missed large chunks of the action.

But tbh, what I saw didn’t enthuse me to seek the entire replay. The absolute max I can imagine from either of them is sneaking a vacant title fight, but they look more Euro/ Pan-American level