By Barry Holbrook: Joshua Buatsi has failed to return the contract for an IBF light heavyweight title eliminator against Jean Pascal. As such, the fight is no longer occurring.
The fight was supposed to be a collaborative effort between Lou DiBella and Frank Warren to put on the contest.
Instead, the IBF will drop down the list to find another opponent to face the 39-year-old Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) for the eliminator.
It’s not that surprising that Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) won’t fight Pascal because a much bigger fight is on the horizon against Callum Smith. That would be one that would work well in the UK but not elsewhere.
Pascal would have been a really tough fight for Buatsi as even at 39, he possesses more hand speed and is a tough guy who will force him into a war of attrition.
Buatsi’s career has failed to take off since she competed in the 2016 Olympics for the United Kingdom. Since he turned pro, Buatsi has faced a quality opponent in Craig Richards last May, narrowly edging him with a narrow 12-round unanimous decision.
If Buatsi faces Callum Smith next, it would be a great fight for the fans, but you never know with him. He might end up resorting to taking on the bottom dwellers he had been fighting for the past five years.
You have to feel sorry for Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn as he probably thought he was signing a gem when he signed Buatsi to a contract with his company.
For whatever reason, Buatsi’s career hasn’t taken off like other Matchroom wrestlers like Conor Benn and Anthony Joshua. We’ll have to see if Hearn chooses to re-sign Buatsi when his contract with Matchroom expires.
The way Richards rocked Buatsi last May, it’s unlikely he’ll beat Callum or IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. Those guys are on another level than the 29-year-old Buatsi.
Buatsi’s best victories:
Craig Richards Ricards Bolotniks Daniel Blenda Dos Santos Marko Calic Renold Quinlan Ryan Ford Marco Antonio Periban
At this point in Buatsi’s career, he should have faced a lot more opposition than this. He should have been mixing with the likes of Callum Smith years ago instead of waiting until he was 29 to face him.
The IBF has waived light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi from a title eliminator against Jean Pascal for failing to return the signed deal by the deadline after the August 30 purse offer. The contract expired on September 14. Pascal will now be ordered to face the next ranked contender, Michael Eifert.
– Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) September 21, 2022
