Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith are gearing up for an exciting light-heavyweight showdown on February 22. They will face each other on the undercard of the highly anticipated Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch, with the winner eyeing a potential title shot.
Carl Froch, former super-middleweight world champion, has weighed in on the upcoming clash. Known as ‘The Cobra,’ Froch, who famously stopped George Groves at Wembley Stadium in front of 80,000 fans, has experience sparring with both competitors.
In a recent analysis video, Froch praised Smith as a "good fighter" and described him as a "quality operator." He highlighted that Smith’s best victory was against George Groves, commending his boxing skills and formidable counter left hook.
When discussing Buatsi, Froch remarked, "This step up in competition for Buatsi is long overdue. He doesn’t have any standout names on his record yet. He needs to prove himself at world level." Despite this observation, Froch remains optimistic about both fighters’ potential.
Froch went on to note their shared strengths, such as having a solid pedigree, exhibiting effective ring movement, throwing combination punches, and demonstrating good footwork. Buatsi currently holds the interim WBO world champion title, but this bout represents a substantial challenge for him. For Smith, Froch highlighted a potential career crossroads, saying, "Smith’s had a great career, but he hasn’t quite cut it at world level. If he loses this one, he might think about hanging up the gloves."
In terms of predictions, Froch expressed a preference for Buatsi, attributing his choice to Buatsi’s ambition. He stated that success would depend on "the fighter who goes for it and puts shots together."
The stakes are high for both fighters, with a win potentially leading to a bout against the Beterbiev-Bivol winner and a chance for a world title fight. For Buatsi, this matchup is crucial for legitimizing his status at the top-tier level.
As the fight night draws near, fans are eager to see whether Froch’s analysis will hold true and which contender will advance in their boxing journey.
