JOSHUA BUATSI and Dan Azeez prepare to put friendships aside for British boxing bragging rights.
The unbeaten light-heavyweight pair fight for the No1 contender spot for the WBA belt held by Dmitry Bivol.
They were due to meet on October 21 at the O2 but injury forced Azeez out and a rescheduled date of February 3 at Wembley Arena was set.
The two were once good friends, who mixed in mutual circles and shared several rounds of sparring together.
But relationships strained when they signed fight contracts and that only intensified when Azeez pulled out merely days before the initial bout.
Buatsi, 30, is a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and one touted for the future when he turned pro a year later.
And despite 17 wins and 13 knockouts in six years, the former amateur standout has been hampered with inactivity.
Promotional and managerial shifts have not helped either.
Buatsi is at the centre of a legal case between Matchroom Boxing, his former promoter, and Boxxer, who he last year signed for.
And despite all the promise in the world, Buatsi has not yet been given the right opponent to truly showcase his talent.
At 6ft 2in, he has a reach of 74+1⁄2 in and uses it to full advantages with long, stinging attacks to head and body.
Buatsi is one of the most spiteful punchers in the country and division worldwide.
Azeez meanwhile stands just 5ft 10in and often comes up against much taller opponents.
But he has adopted and seek and destroy style, bobbing and weaving on the front foot and launching hurtful punches over the top.
He only has a reach of 70in, but Azeez also has 13 stoppages to his name, often overwhelming opponents with his leaping combinations.
Azeez has had tough, domestic dust-ups against the likes of Hosea Burton, Shakan Pitters and Rocky Fielding.
And it has earned him the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles.
A world title shot would be the next on the list and that is on the line against Buatsi, making for one of the fights of the year.
