Joshua Buatsi vs. Craig Richards is scheduled for 12 rounds in the light heavyweight division on Saturday, May 21 at the O2 Arena in London. Buatsi takes a significant step up in class against the twice-beaten Richards, with the winner looking to force his way into the upper tier of the division.
The Ghanian native is an explosive puncher who is rapidly climbing the rankings, and he’s a -600 favorite against the toughest opponent he’s faced so far. Richards, best known for a spirited challenge against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, is a +425 underdog
Here are our free boxing picks and predictions for Buatsi vs. Richards on May 21.
David Benavidez vs Craig Richards odds
| Method of victory | Joshua Buatsi | Craig Richards |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -600 | +425 |
| Win by KO/TKO | -165 | +1,200 |
| Win by points or decision | +230 | +700 |
| Draw | +2,000 | +2,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of May 19, 2022.
David Benavidez vs Craig Richards betting predictions
Picks made on May 18. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Joshua Buatsi vs Craig Richards betting preview
Buatsi, the 2016 bronze medalist, has shown a lot of promise as a prospect to watch. Last year, he scored stunning knockouts against Daniel Dos Santos and Ricards Bolotniks. Buatsi is already ranked inside the Top 10 for each of the major sanctioning bodies, so a win here brings him that much closer to a world title shot.
With 13 of his 15 wins coming by stoppage, Buatsi is developing as expected and has an opportunity to shine against an opponent who will test him. Richards might not cut it on the world stage, but he’s not a whiffle ball being set on a tee, either.
Questions linger about Buatsi’s conditioning, and he basically had to throw everything but the kitchen sink to stop an overmatched Bolotniks. When a fighter is marketed as a puncher and matched softly on the way up, we may see more cracks in his game than his performances indicate. Against a punch sponge-like Richards, he can either double down on his emerging reputation as a knockout artist or see his hype subside with anything less than a wipe-out.
Richards is a gritty fighter who can take a punch and keep coming. His two defeats saw a similar pattern of falling behind early and putting on a spirited showing late. He enjoys a bit of added respect here, as he managed to give Bivol a tougher fight than Saul Alvarez did in a 2021 defeat.
Though he’s fallen short in the past, Richards is rightfully considered one of the top light heavyweights in Britain. Considering how well he can take a punch and his stubborn pressure style, he might give the reasonably favored Buatsi all the trouble he can handle.
Joshua Buatsi vs Craig Richards boxing prediction and best bet
Prediction:
All things considered, we don’t see this as a trap fight for Buatsi. He can certainly find himself in trouble if he doesn’t take Richard’s seriously enough, but he has shown that he has the tools necessary to pass his biggest test.
Richards is a notoriously slow starter. That means he’ll either mop up a lot of punches early or fall hopelessly behind due to inactivity. He did give Bivol some rough moments, but never really threatened to beat him.
These two previously met as amateurs, with Buatsi stopping Richards in three rounds. While Richards has enjoyed sharing the ring with world-class competition, he hasn’t shown the type of style or features that could derail Buatsi’s upward growth.
Buatsi will jump to an early lead that may be bolstered by a knockdown. By the halfway point, Richards will try to mount a counteroffensive with whatever he has left at that point. The plan with Richards surely relies on looking for body shots and testing Buatsi’s conditioning later in the fight.
It could get interesting, but not to the point where the outcome will be in any doubt. Expect the sophisticated Buatsi to come out on top against his regional rival.
Prediction: Buatsi to win (-600 at DraftKings)
Best Bet:
Buatsi’s respectable power combined with Richard’s tendency to absorb punishment makes a stoppage look very attractive. At the same time, Richard has yet to be stopped as a professional and can take a good punch.
A lot can happen over the course of 12 rounds, and this is shaping up to be the kind of fight that is closer than the odds indicate. If Buatsi were to dispose of Richards quickly, it’d be a major testament to his potential. In all likelihood, this might be a case of a good fighter outclassing a decent one in a scrappy bout.
Betting on Buatsi is a tough swallow, at -600 for a straight-up pick. Instead, bet on Richards lasting long enough to make things interesting and the fight going the distance.
Pick: Fight to end by decision or technical decision (+145 at DraftKings)
