The British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles are on the line in London as Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez face off on February 3. The fight airs on Sky Sports in the U.K. and Peacock in the U.S.
Buatsi turned pro in 2017. In 2019, he beat Liam Conroy for the British light heavyweight title and has since taken out the likes of Ryan Ford, Ricards Bolotniks, and Craig Richards. He went from Matchrom Boxing to BOXXER and looks to win the fight and compete against light heavyweight champions Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterviev.
Azeez turned pro in 2017. He won the English light heavyweight title against Lawrence Osueke in 2019 and the Commonwealth light heavyweight title in 2022 against Rocky Fielding. Azeez had to back out of the contest in October due to an injury but is now ready to prove he can take down a top fighter like Buatsi.
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Per Bet MGM, Buatsi is the -400 favorite, while Azeez is the +300 underdog. Buatsi has proven he can beat some of the best in the division, while Azeez is as scrappy as they come. Does the fight truly favor Buatsi, or can Azeez provide the ultimate upset?
The Sporting News looks at some unique and worthy prop bets for this fight.
Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez prediction, best prop bets
Best Prop bets for Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez
Will the fight go the full 12 rounds? (Yes: -225 per Bet MGM)
Buatsi is quick on his feet and likes to control the distance in his fights. A calculating fighter, his jab is his biggest weapon, as seen when he landed 90 of 323 (28%) against Craig Richards. Making any fight entertaining when motivated, Buatsi has a chance to show off for twelve rounds.
Azeez is durable and likes to apply pressure, using every minute in the ring to outwork his opponent. He also only has won 13 fights via knockout. Against a defensive-minded opponent like Buatsi, it seems unlikely he won't try to control the pace of the contest and force Buatsi to use some extra energy.
The fight is expected to be an entertaining affair. There may not be a knockout, but both look to give it their all for twelve rounds, the expected time the fight will last.
Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez prediction: Buatsi via Unanimous Decision (+125 per Bet MGM)
Buatsi's last knockout win was against Ricards Bolotniks in 2021. He has 13 wins via knockout but has relied on the scorecards to determine his method of victory against tough opponents. Buatsi’s durability will be the key here.
That doesn’t mean Azeez won’t provide him with a challenge.
Azeez forced Rocky Fielding's corner to throw in the towel after volume shots affected Fielding's sight. He can end the fight whenever but chooses to bully the opposition. Putting these two in the ring together can make for a lengthy scrap with plenty of damage added.
If you are looking for a firm direction for this fight, look no further than it going the distance and Buatsi taking control by the end.
