Joshua Buatsi on walking away from mentor Anthony Joshua after signing with BOXXER

Joshua Buatsi has claimed he made the decision to leave Matchroom and DAZN for rival promoter BOXXER ‘on his own’, after leaving his mentor Anthony Joshua behind for a new chapter.

The 30-year-old light heavyweight began his career in Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing stable and had close ties to former heavyweight champion Joshua, having signed with his management company 258.

That deal saw Joshua play an integral role as promoter of his Matchroom fights, but now Buatsi is looking to start anew, with his fights now airing on Sky Sports.

He’s already explained that he’s looking to reach as many fans as possible and felt DAZN didn’t get as many viewers, but this decision was mostly a way for the undefeated star to forge a new path for himself, with his first fight scheduled for May. 6 at the Genting Arena in Birmingham.

“I see Sky and BOXXER getting bids for the fights I’m involved in,” he told Sportsmail when asked why he made the jump to a new promoter.

He has left behind his old mentor Anthony Joshua, who had signed light heavyweight to his company 258 Management, and is looking for a new chapter.

‘What is the biggest platform out there? It’s Sky Sports. You can see why I would like to be here. Where else would I like to be?

‘Each fighter has to make a move with his own judgement. I looked at where I am and thought “at this point, what’s the best move for me?” And that’s what I’ve done.

Asked if he had spoken to Joshua about his decision to leave Matchroom and DAZN, Buatsi, who is no longer under contract with 258, said: “It’s a decision I made on my own.” Of course, I have a few people that I talk to and weigh my options, but I had to go out there and do what’s best for me.

After winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, Matchroom was quick to sign Buatsi and led him to 16 straight wins, but the wrestler said the time was right to move on after they failed to meet his demands in the negotiations.

‘There were terms and things that I wanted to be matched. They couldn’t be matched and it was time for him to move on.

The 30-year-old said Matchroom and chief Eddie Hearn (right) could not meet his demands.

‘The requirements I had cannot be matched. I entered the stage where I felt like I needed to move on. He had needs that could not be met. I had to make a decision that was good for me.

DAZN looked like the future of boxing television after buying Joshua and Canelo, who signed one of the biggest deals in the sport’s history worth around £300m in 2021.

But of late, Sky Sports have shown they can still hold their own, with the likes of Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Smith, Claressa Shields, Savannah Marshall, Joseph Parker and now Buatsi.

Buatsi believes that every fighter has a different idea of ​​which channel they want to fight on. He didn’t want his fans to “download an app and have to write his email.” He credited Sky and BOXXER’s main promoter, Ben Shalom, with their passion and willingness to improve as a factor in his decision-making.

“Fighters have to look at their own situation, you can’t look at what I’m doing and think because I did it, it’s the right move for you.

He praised Sky for his impressive stable and believes BOXXER boss Ben Shalom (L) will keep him going and give him some great fights.

‘[BOXXER] He is a promoter who I think is very passionate about the sport. He seems to be listening to the fans and taking into account what they say. That’s what you want in a partnership: someone who works with someone else and they work together. It’s not like you’re working for anyone. That’s a setup I prefer.

Since Joshua left Sky Sports last year, the broadcaster has lacked a true face for its boxing show. The Watford-born star was just as dominant and successful when his cameras recorded his rise from Olympic gold medalist to two-time world champion.

Buatsi now sees a gap in the market to become the new face as he has praised the growing talent in his stable.

“I think there is a space for someone to be the next face and with the platform that Sky has, I think it’s a possibility,” he added.

“You look at some of the events they’ve put together with the women’s fights, Marshall v Shields. You look at pay-per-view events, Khan and Brook, Eubank and Smith, you look at Dan Azeez. There are so many that I can’t stop naming them. I think he is self explanatory.

Buatsi said there was an opportunity to be the next face of Sky Sports as it looks at a world title shot.

After an impressive start to his career and the brutal nature of some of his recent fights, including a streak of 10 consecutive knockouts from 2018-2021, it won’t be long before Buatsi gets into a world title fight.

Domestic fights against Anthony Yarde and Dan Azeez have been suggested as potential opponents to come.

Buatsi, who has no opponent in May as it is, has been assured that he will stay active and be given big fights that the fans want to see.

For a fighter who has fought there twice in two years, he looks forward to getting back to being more active, and then letting the bigger opportunities follow from there.

“I wouldn’t have moved here if world title fights weren’t something they couldn’t offer,” he said. ‘It’s something very realistic and deliverable. That is why I am here.’

Joshua Buatsi is back: Saturday May 6, Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. Ticket details in boxxer.com