Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith Preview Feb. 22nd, 2025
The WBO Interim Light Heavyweight Title is up for grabs in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, Feb. 22nd as unbeaten Joshua Buatsi of Ghana defends it against former WBA Super Middleweight Champion Callum Smith of Liverpool, England. The 12-rounder can be seen live on pay-per-view in most nations. Buatsi, who fights out of London, England last fought in September when he beat Willy Hutchinson via a split decision after dropping him in the sixth and ninth rounds to win the interim belt. Hutchinson also had a point deducted in the seventh round for headbutting. Buatsi beat Dan Azeez by a wide 12-round unanimous decision in his previous outing to capture the British and Commonwealth Belts. Smith last saw action in November when he stopped Carlos Galvan in the fifth round.
Buatsi vs Smith Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Callum Smith +155
- Joshua Buatsi -185
My Pick
The 31-year-old Buatsi enters the fight with a perfect record of 19-0 with 13 Ko’s and obviously has pretty good power in his punches with a current knockout mark of 68.4 per cent but has gone the distance in his last four fights. He’s boxed 111 rounds as a pro since making his debut in 2017. He had a fine amateur career as he won a gold medal at the 2014 and 2015 English ABA National Championships and a bronze at the 2015 European Amateur Boxing Championships.
He also won the 2015 Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the 2016 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament. Buatsi then went on to capture a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since turning pro he’s won the WBA International, BBBoC British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Titles.
Buatsi measures 6-feet-2-inches tall with a 74.5-inch reach but hasn’t really faced any legitimate world-class contenders as of yet as his biggest wins have been over Hutchinson, Azeez, Craig Richards, Renold Quinlon, Liam Conroy, Marco Antonio Periban, Ryan Ford, Marko Calic and Ricards Bolotniks. He needs to just keep on beating whoever is put in front of him though if he hopes to eventually land a shot at a full world title.
The 34-year-old Smith makes the ring walk with a mark of 30-2 with 21 Ko’s and has boxed 164 rounds since turning pro in 2012. He’s definitely big enough for the light heavyweight division as he stands 6-feet-3-inches tall with a 78-inch reach, which gives him a one-inch edge in height over Buatsi as well as 3.5-inches in reach. Smith also enjoyed a fine amateur career and was once the British Super Welterweight Champion as an amateur. His first loss came at the hands of Canelo Alvarez in a shot at the vacant WBC Super Middleweight Title in 2020 when he dropped a unanimous decision.
Smith was then stopped by Artur Beterbiev in January, 2024 as he was stopped in the seventh round. His best wins have been against George Groves, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, Gilberto Rivera, Nieky Holzken, Erik Skoglund, Luke Blackledge, Norbert Nemesapati, Cesar Hernan Reynoso, Rocky Fielding and Christopher Rebrasse and a highly-controversial decision against John Ryder in 2019 also thrown in there. He’s displayed pretty good power up to now though as 73.3 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including five of his past six. Smith has also been an English, British, European, WBC International and WBC Silver and Diamond Super Middleweight Champion.
Prediction…
Buatsi has looked somewhat lethargic in several of his fights and certainly can’t afford to be less than 100 per cent against Smith due to Smith’s size and power. This fight will be won by the boxer who wants it most and takes the initiative. I’m expecting a very close contest here which could go either way but feel if Buatsi is at his very best he should do just enough to pull out a win.
Buatsi will need to be at his very best.
Play: Buatsi -185 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Callum Smith betting • Joshua Buatsi betting