Joshua Buatsi Vs Marko Calic: Complete rundown of Matchroom Boxing’s next card behind closed doors from inside their bubble
Exciting light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi headlines a Matchroom card against the also unbeaten Marko Calic at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on Sunday.
There is also an English middleweight title on the line as champion Linus Udofia defends against John Harding Jr and Chantelle Cameron has a shot at the vacant WBC super-lightweight tile against Ariana Araujo.
Buatsi is one of the promising prospects in the world
Eddie Hearn has put together a decent card that is headed up by one of the best prospects in world boxing in Buatsi.
talkSPORT have been lucky enough to stay in the Matchroom bubble ahead of the event and speak to all the fighters ahead of the card.
John Hedges Vs Jan Ardon
Matchroom’s 18 year old prodigy Hedges makes his professional debut this weekend and it’s expected the 6ft 5ins super middleweight will dispatch Czech Ardon, a man who has a record of two wins and four losses.
“Of course I’ve got nerves,” Hedges said. “At the end of the day, I’m still an 18-year-old boy, I still get my nerves, but I’ve got a strong mindset, I’ve got a goal and nothing is going to stop me from achieving that.
“I believe my character comes out in my boxing. I’m quite a bubbly person and you see me take chances, I take risks, I’m not a safety fighter. I do what I do good and I think I take some beating,” Hedges said.
Ardon is the first opponent for Hedges in the pro ranks
Aqib Fiaz Vs Kane Baker
The narrative of this fight is the fact it was meant to happen at Fight Camp about six weeks ago and Fiaz pulled out sick at the last minute after failing to make the weight.
At the time, Baker accused Fiaz of feigning illness in an emotional interview. Now the fight has been made, there is undoubtedly a bit of extra spice between the pair.
“I’m just past caring if he was [sick or not],” Baker said. “I was worried when I said all of that and I didn’t believe it because the fight wasn’t happening.
“Now that the fight is happening, it’s put to the back of my mind. Maybe he did have a bit of fear, who knows? Only he’ll know that. Someone did message me and say he wouldn’t fight me because his brother wasn’t there. And his brother wasn’t there.
“But, the same person messaged me and said ‘I bet his brother is there this time’ and he is! So maybe he needs his brother, who knows!”
Linus Udofia Vs John Harding Jr – English Middleweight title
Managed by Dillian Whyte, Harding Jr has had one shot at the English middleweight title before and came up just short, but he’s picked himself back up, grabbed a win, and now has another shot.
Udofia has a pristine record after 15 fights with seven stoppages along the way. He’s claimed Harding Jr’s camp didn’t want this fight, but now it’s on there’s definitely a bite to this contest.
“I’m not trying to downplay him, but I don’t fear him,” Harding Jr said. “I think he probably thinks I’m the easier option and he’s cherry-picked a lot.
“So, for him to say it’s a 50/50 fight and he’s someone that’s had more fights than me, you’ll never see Linus fight someone who’s had 20 fights or push to fight Liam Williams, anything like that. I would.
“That’s the difference between me and him and that’s what it’ll be on Sunday. Why am I so confident? Because I know that I’ve put that hard work in. I feel great.”
Harding Jr is in sensational shape and he said he’s certainly done the work ahead of this fight
Alen Babic Vs Niall Kennedy
Due to his ‘Savage’ alter-ego, Babic has become a favourite among the fans early doors. The Croatian can get nasty when he needs to and Irishman Kennedy may well feel the force on Sunday.
This is only Babic’s fifth professional fight, but he has won all four of his previous contests via knockout and it’s widely expected that trend will continue Sunday.
“He’s slow,” Babic said, almost factually. “I really don’t think he can do anything to me. He’s never operated at this level, I think this will be his toughest fight.
“Does anyone know anyone he has fought? No? See, nobody knows! I couldn’t even find his fights on YouTube. There are no fights.
“I don’t think he’s a great boxer, I think he’s average at best. I will stop him.”
‘The Savage’ Alen Babic has really captured the imagination of fans
Chantelle Cameron Vs Adriana Araujo
This is the world opportunity Cameron has been looking for and after signing with Eddie Hearn, she has it in her very first fight under the Matchroom umbrella.
Cameron is unbeaten in 12 outings, but so is her Brazilian foe Araujo with six wins and one knockout.
“During this training camp, I feel like I’ve become a better boxer,” Cameron insisted. “Instead of focusing on my power and walking people down, I’ve actually concentrated on my technique and I really feel like I’ve gotten better.
“I’m going to say I get a points win. If I go looking for a stoppage, it will take me off my game plan so I’m not going to say a stoppage, but if it comes, I’ll be happy.
“If I land, I will hurt hurt – but I think points.”
Cameron wants to bring another world title home to the UK
Joshua Buatsi Vs Marko Calic
Everyone expects Buatsi to reach the upper echelons of the light-heavyweight division. This is another step on the way to that world title contention that surely looms.
However, Calic is an unbeaten force in his own right and a man who fought at heavyweight in the amateurs. In fact, he holds two victories over his compatriot on the card, Babic.
“It’s hit and don’t get hit, but if I need to fight fire with fire against Buatsi, I will,” Calic said.
“We’ll see how it goes. It doesn’t make sense to fight bums, so why not fight the best? I’m always ready to fight the best and that’s what I’ll do Sunday.”
Calic is not to be underestimated
Buatsi isn’t one for trash talk or anything like that. The Olympic bronze medallist is far more interested in showing his work.
“For me, it’s always business. I’ll respect my opponent leading up to the fight, but when we’re in there, I’ll do what I have to do. After the fight, it’s all cool. We can have respect.
“But nothing gets in the way of me doing what I need to do. I feel like I’m on my journey to the world title picture and this is another hurdle – an unbeaten one – that I have to and do take seriously. I’m fully motivated.”
Watch this card go down this Sunday (October 4) on Sky Sports for Buatsi V Calic from 7pm.
Buatsi is expected to put on a show
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