Joshua Buatsi vs Ricards Bolotniks – Results & Post-Fight Report

The curtain came down on Matchroom’s final Fight Camp show of the summer, and Joshua Buatsi ended proceedings in style with an eleventh round knockout win over Ricards Bolotniks in what was an eliminator for the WBA light heavyweight title.

Buatsi came into the contest on the back of a fourth round victory over Daniel Blenda Dos Santos in May this year, and had never been past seven rounds in his professional career. Bolotniks was in the form of his life, capturing the MTK Golden Contract with wins over Steven Ward, Hosea Burton, and Serge Michel.

Buatsi began brightly, taking the centre of the ring from the opening bell, but had to take a hard right hand from the Latvian, who seemed unfazed and undeterred as Buatsi unloaded. Buatsi, under the tutelage of the famed trainer, Virgil Hunter for the second time, worked off an excellent jab in the second, and landed some meaty body shots that dropped Bolotniks’ guard slightly.

Bolotniks is a dangerous operator, and his punches were carrying power as he landed some hefty shots in round three, but once Buatsi got back on his jab, he was able to wrestle back control. A big left hook shook Bolotniks up at the start of the fourth, and the visitor was also showing damage on both eyes, as his fight fire with fire tactics were coming back to haunt him as the fight progressed. Buatsi was sensing that a finish could well be in sight, but he still had to be on his mettle , having to take a couple of uppercuts in the fifth. That finish edged closer in round six, as a perfectly timed left hook had Bolotniks on the deck. He beat the count, but the referee was close to stepping in on the resumption, as Buatsi bounced him around the ring like a rag doll with spiteful punches, but ‘The Lion’ saw out the round, and fought gamely in the seventh as his opponent largely took the session off after expending energy going for the finish in the previous frame.

The Croydon based 2016 Olympic Bronze Medallist was deducted a point in the eighth for a low blow, and his opponent was growing in confidence as he tightened the scores. The ninth was another competitive affair, but Buatsi went on the charge in round ten, landing with several hard blows that were taking their toll on Bolotniks. The end would come a round later, as the man from Riga was in retreat, he was caught by a single right hand that floored him heavily, and referee Howard Foster dispensed with the count.

Joe Cordina needed less than a minute to wipe out Joshuah Hernandez, as the Welshman impressed in his scheduled ten rounder at lightweight. ‘The Welsh Wizard’ let go of several power right hands from the off, and then nailed Hernandez with a massive right that was superbly delivered, and the visitor was crumpled on impact. He did rise just at the count of ten, but there was no was he could continue, and the fight was waved off.

Mikey McKinson turned in another clinical performance as he defended his WBO Global welterweight title with a routine points win over Poland’s limited Przemyslaw Runowski. ‘The Problem’ from Portsmouth was rarely in trouble, and, once he gets into a rhythm, is a hard man to discourage, and he sealed victory in this one by two scores of 99-91 and one tally of 98-92.

Hopey Price made it to 5-0 as a professional, as he took the unbeaten record of Italy’s Claudio Grande over six rounds at super bantamweight. Price boxed well throughout, and nailed Grande with a crunching counter left hand that floored the visitor with seconds of the fight remaining. The bell saved Grande, but Price ran out a 58-55 winner for the referee.

Kash Farooq claimed the vacant WBC International bantamweight title, as the Scot boxed brilliantly in a points win over Luis Gerardo Castillo, who took a fair bit of punishment, and was brave in defeat. Farooq has designs on a rematch with his only conqueror in the professional ranks in Lee McGregor, and he remained on course with a win by two scores of 100-90, and a third at 100-91.

Raymond Ford took the WBA Continental featherweight title, as he stopped Reece Bellotti in three rounds. Bellotti walked on to a big right hook, and, after a follow up attack of lefts and rights, the referee stepped in to save the Watford man from more punishment.

Zelfa Barrett ticked over on the bill with a win over Violet Simion, who retired after four rounds of their scheduled eight round super featherweight attraction. Simion was down in the opening round from a combination to the body, and by the end of round four, was withdrawn by his corner.