'He's ready now' - Eddie Hearn plans Dmitry Bivol title fight for Joshua Buatsi

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn wants Dmitry Bivol to face Joshua Buatsi at the O2 Arena for a 2022 world title fight.

Hearn was speaking after Buatsi headlined the Fight Camp 3 finale in Brentwood where he knocked out Ricards Bolotniks in dominant fashion.

He now believes that the 28-year-old is on course for a title fight in the next year, with one more fight in preparation to come.

“Possibly America next,” Hearn said on DAZN.

“He definitely needs some time off - he sacrificed a lot in camp. I’m thinking December. I think we know we work with Dmitry Bivol, Joe Smith, we've got Beterbiev, there’s no easy route to a world championship at 175lbs and quite frankly, there shouldn’t be. But you know if you win a championship in this division, you’ve done it the hard way.

“For me, because of the way things will work for Bivol’s next defence, Joe Smith, Beterbiev, I see him having one more fight, stateside, November-December, then that is it.”

Hearn then sketched out a plan for a route to a title.

“We’ll see if Bivol holds onto his championship in his next fight,” he said.

“Joshua Buatsi vs Dmitry Bivol at the O2, that’s the kind of fight that can make him a real star. 

“I feel like he’s ready now but I do see him having one more runout in December, then all systems go for a world championship.

“I believe that Britain has another world champion right here.”