by Shaun Brown
Promoter Eddie Hearn says he will be making a "big offer" for his man Joshua Buatsi (6-0, 4 KOs) to fight the Frank Warren promoted Anthony Yarde (15-0, 14 KOs) in the second half of 2018.
The two British light heavyweights are pencilled in to fight one more time before the summer with Buatsi scheduled to be back out in July, while Yarde will return on June 23 at the O2 Arena, London as part of the Billy Joe Saunders-Martin Murray undercard.
"We'll be making a big offer once we get through the summer and their next fights," Hearn told Boxing Scene.
"He [Buatsi] wants to get moving. He really wants to fight Anthony Yarde. He's already approached me and said 'Can you make that fight?'"
Another name in the mix for Anthony Yarde is the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Callum Johnson.
"I made a huge offer for Callum Johnson to fight Yarde, in excess of six figures, and they said no because he's fighting on June 23," said Hearn. "But he didn't have an opponent, and he doesn't have an opponent, I don't believe, even at this stage. We'd even be willing for Callum Johnson to fight Yarde on the 23rd."
Should the Buatsi-Yarde fight not materialise then Hearn has plans for the 25-year-old Ghanaian born Londoner to fight on a Matchroom USA show in September. Hearn's confidence in Buatsi has grown and grown, and is confident that the 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist will be challenging for domestic and European titles by the end of the year.
"Buatsi is just too good," Hearn added.
"I rate Yarde, I think he's a talent but Buatsi is on another level. Again, if Frank [Warren] won't let Yarde fight on Sky I'm happy to look at Buatsi fighting on BT, if it means getting Buatsi that fight. He's one of those guys where I'm so confident in him beating people that, if we have to make a move like that to get the fight we want then so be it."
Another Brit who could potentially make his U.S debut in September for Matchroom is former British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Hosea Burton. The 29-year-old lost his titles to Frank Buglioni in a thriller in 2016. After two defences Buglioni would come unstuck against Burton's gym-mate Callum Johnson in one round back in March.
"Burton's a dangerous fight for anyone," said Hearn.
"The problem Hosea's having is no-one really wants to fight him, because you're not really gaining anything by fighting Hosea Burton. He's going to have to jump into a fight where no-one really knows a lot about him. And that may come in America as well.
"I really like the Burton-Buglioni rematch, and potentially make that for Callum Johnson's Commonwealth title. That's a great fight. I think a lot of people would like to see that fight and I think both guys are in a position where they need to take that fight really."
Last summer it looked like Burton would take on Anthony Yarde in a British light heavyweight title eliminator. Sadly the fight never materialised. Nearly one year on and Hearn is still more than happy for Burton to take that fight.
"Again, we would provide Hosea Burton for Yarde at virtually no cost, hardly, because I'm so confident of Burton in that fight as well. It's a really good fight. You can't keep turning down fights with no opponent. If he [Yarde] had a fight scheduled then I would say 'Fair enough'. But why not fight Burton, or why not fight Johnson? You're two in the world (with the WBO).What's the point in getting yourself ranked two in the world if you're not ready to fight anyone in the top 20?"
Shaun Brown covers British boxing for Boxing Scene. Contact him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0