Ghanaian-British Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi will make his professional boxing debut this July. The 24-year-old just signed for Matchroom Boxing in a paid fight that will take place next month in a packed hall at The O2.

The Ghanaian-born British boxer is in the light heavyweight division and is said to be managed by world heavyweight champion Nigerian-British Anthony Joshua under his AJ Boxing management team.

Speaking about Anthony, Buatsi said; “I know Joshua well from the GB setup and I feel like the AJ Boxing team have done a great job. They’ve taken someone from the same background as me and handled it brilliantly. He’s officially my manager so I have access to Josh – he rang me yesterday to wish me luck and run through a few things. It’s good to have someone who has been through it already behind me.”

Sky Sports hailed Joshua Buatsi as a stand-out performer who has displayed his punch power and Daily Mail says Buatsi has made exciting strides and it’ll be fascinating to watch him develop.

Fulfilling his promise to his mother to complete his university degree, Buatsi graduated from  St Mary’s University, Twickenham this year after studying management studies and sport science. He also won two gold medals including the English National Championships. “I went back to uni two weeks after I landed back from Rio. That was quite a humbling experience,” he tells Daily MAIL. “I had a bronze medal and thought, ‘Do I really have to do this?’. But I made sure I got it done. I’d go to Sheffield and train three times in a day then go home late at night, open my laptop and write a huge essay. My brain was fried so I’m glad it’s over and it’s all boxing for me now. I didn’t live on Super Noodles or drink though – I sacrificed that uni lifestyle for this and I’m more than happy I did.”

Buatsi is billed to have eight fights in the first 12 months as a professional. “Hopefully I will stay injury free and be able to meet that target. I’m looking to go out there and show the whole nation what I can do, to captivate everyone, and build a huge fan base.”