The fight promoter Ben Shalom wants for light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi remains fellow Londoner Anthony Yarde.

Yarde defeated Ralfs Vilcans by decision over 10 rounds on a Boxxer show in October, while Buatsi fights Liverpool’s Callum Smith in Saudi Arabia on February 22. 

“The Yarde fight’s obviously what the fans have wanted to see for a long time,” explained Shalom. “It was nearly made [in 2024], then obviously he [Buatsi] went down the [Willy] Hutchinson route, but I think it’s a fight the fans want to see.

"Ultimately it will be Josh’s decision and he’s in a good position now, and the interim champion, so he probably feels like he’ll make his own decision and he’ll choose the opponent that’s right for him.

“I think every boxing fan has fought about Buatsi-Yarde for many years but, ultimately, it’s in Josh’s hands. But if you’re a boxing fan it’s the fight you want to see. At the end of the day, they’re all big fights at this level, and Josh has earned the right to choose who he wants, but I think Yarde wants the biggest fight as possible and I know he’s expecting that fight to happen next.”