Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien: Betting odds and tips

AFTER nearly a year out of the ring, Joshua Buatsi will make his debut for BOXXER on Saturday, May 6, when he takes on Poland’s Pawel Stepien at the World Resorts Arena in Birmingham.

Buatsi is the current WBA world number one in the light heavyweight division, and he will hope to make a statement on his return and secure a future world title shot. Let’s take a look at how much the bookies fancy his chances. 

Current odds for Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight

Joshua Buatsi may have been away from the ring for nearly 12 months, but the bookies heavily favour him to have his hand raised at the end of the night. The current odds for the fight are as follows: 

Joshua Buatsi’s odds to win

• bet365 1/16
• William Hill 1/16
• BetVictor 1/20
• Coral 1/14
• Spreadex 1/16
• BetUK 1/16
• BoyleSports 1/20
• Ladbrokes 1/14

Pawel Stepien’s odds to win

• bet365 15/2
• William Hill 15/2
• BetVictor 8/1
• Coral 7/1
• Spreadex 8/1
• BetUK 17/2
• BoyleSports 8/1
• Ladbrokes 7/1

Best bookies for betting on Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the best bookies to consider for betting on this highly anticipated Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight.

Joshua Buatsi’s current form and latest matches

As his odds of 1/14 might suggest, Joshua Buatsi is the strong favourite this weekend. His last fight saw him defeat fellow Englishman Craig Richards by unanimous decision in a corker of a match at the O2 in London. This was nearly 12 months ago, on May 21st 2022. 

The talented lightweight has an unbeaten professional record, racking up 16 consecutive wins, 13 of which have come by KO. Before beating Richards, he scored impressive back-to-back TKO victories against Ričards Bolotņiks and Daniel De Santos. 

Pawel Stepien’s past performance and recent fights

Stepien’s price of 7/1 is probably a little bit of an unfair reflection of the Polish fighter’s in-ring acumen. He comes into the fight with an 18-0-1 record, with his only slip-up coming in a raw with Marek Matyja in 2019. His last match was in August last year, where he defeated Georgian Iago Kiziria in Mragowo, Poland. Notably, this will be Stepien’s first fight outside his home country. 

Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien betting tips and odds

Joshua Buatsi is the firm favourite heading into Birmingham this weekend, and this is reflected in the outright odds. All hope is not lost, though, as there is plenty of value to be found in other betting markets. The following are three of the best bets you could place on Saturday’s fight. 

Joshua Buatsi to Win By KO – 5/2 (bet365)

Joshua Buatsi is WBA number one in the Light Heavyweight Division for a reason, and he will be looking to impress on Saturday night. Stepien is a good opponent for Buatsi for his first fight back in under 12 months, but as the odds suggest, anything less than a comfortable victory for Buatsi would be a huge disappointment. To find value in the fight, you will have to take a look at the exact method of victory market. At 5/2, we think a Buatsi win by knockout provides some great value. You can also back him for a TKO at 8/13. 

Joshua Buatsi in Rounds 4-6 – 11/5 (Ladbrokes)

Buatsi has not been in the ring for nearly 12 months, and he will want to use Saturday’s fight to shake off some of his ring rust. Stepien has gone the distance in his most recent fights and is more than capable of holding his own. Don’t expect this one to go the distance, but don’t expect a super-quick KO victory for Buatsi either. At odds of 11/5 with Ladbrokes, Buatsi to win in rounds 4-6 is a good shout. 

Joshua Buatsi in Round 6 – 7/1 (Coral)

If you want to be a little more speculative, then there is some good value in the exact rounds market. Buatsi to pick up the win at the midway point of the match is an appealing bet at 7/1 with Coral. You can also find him at the same odds to win in rounds 5 or 7. 

How to place a bet on Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien

You’ll have no trouble putting a few quid on Saturday’s fight. All you need to do is follow these steps: 

1. Sign in to your preferred bookmaker. If you’ve not got an account, sign up using one of our links. As a new customer, make sure you take advantage of the welcome bonus. 
2. Go to the boxing section. Boxing is a popular sport, so it is often highlighted on the homepage. If not, you can find it by clicking on the ‘all sports’ or sports A-Z tab. 
3. Once there, scroll down to find the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight. 
4. Choose the market you want to bet on and add your selection to your betting slip. 
5. Enter the amount you want to bet, double-check all the details, and click confirm. 
6. Sit back and enjoy the fight. 

Have Buatsi and Stepien fought before?

No. Saturday’s clash in Birmingham will be the first time the two boxers have met. Both of them come into the fight with similar unbeaten records, and while Buatsi is heavily tipped to win, Stepien should prove to be a worthy opponent in the West Midlands. 

Who has more KOs in their career, Joshua Buatsi or Pawel Stepien?

In terms of knockouts, Joshua Buatsi just edges it against Stepien. Buatsi has managed to score 13 KO victories in his career, while Stepien has scored 12. 

Who is more likely to get KO’d, Buatsi or Stepien?

Neither Buatsi nor Stepien have been beaten in their career so far, but Pawel Stepien is likelier to be staring at the lights in Birmingham this weekend. Buatsi has a deadly right-hand and will be looking to make a statement when he returns to the ring. He will know that a future world title bout is on the line if he can score a win, and he will look to do so emphatically. 

What’s the best online bookmaker for betting on the Buatsi vs Stepien fight? 

Narrowing it down to just one bookmaker is tricky. bet365, Coral, and Ladbrokes are all up there as the best boxing bookies in the UK. Each of them offers a strong choice of markets and competitive odds. They all have price boosts and other promotions that you can take advantage of before and during the fight, with bet365 particularly excelling on that front. 

Which bookie will have live streaming of the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight?

None of the bookies will provide live streams of the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight. If you want to watch the fight live in the UK, you will need to have a subscription to Sky Sports or Now TV. Alternatively, you can sign-up for a Now TV day pass. 

Can I use free bets and promotions to bet on the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien boxing match?

Absolutely! All the bookies we have listed provide a range of free bets and other promotions you can use on the fight. While there may not be specific promotions for the fight on offer, generic free bets and welcome bonuses can be used. 

Are there any interesting undercard matches before the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien main event?

BOXXER has put together a stacked card for Birmingham this weekend. Olympic Silver Medalist Ben Whittaker will compete in his third professional fight when he takes on Jordan Grant. Grant brings more experience to the fight, having fought six fights to Whittaker’s two, but Whittaker hopes to use the fight to continue growing his blossoming reputation. 

Some top-quality local talent will also be stepping into the ring. Kaisee Benjamin will hope to take the WBO European super-lightweight championship from Ireland’s Sean McComb in what promises to be one of the night’s most explosive fights. Fellow Brummy, Cori Gibbs will be looking to get revenge against Jimmy First after losing by decision to him back in December. Gibbs will hope the hometown crowd can give him that extra push to pick up the W. 

Elsewhere, Lauren Price and Kirstie Bavington will make history when they fight in the first-ever female British championship match. In a ground-breaking moment for women’s boxing in the country, the two Brits will compete for the inaugural British welterweight title. Wales’ Lauren Price will hope to build on her Olympic success but will come up against her toughest test yet when she faces Katie Bavington, with the Wolverhampton-born star having a home crowd on her side. 

Where can I find the best boxing bonuses in the UK?

Plenty of top boxing bonuses are doing the rounds at UK bookmakers, but Ladbrokes and bet365 stand out as among the best. bet365’s acca-based promotions can be used to great effect on boxing cards, and you will regularly find price boosts. It also offers a good array of general promotions, many of which can be used in boxing. 

Ladbrokes also stands out for its features and bonuses. Its #GetAPrice feature allows punters to request prices for events, which can be particularly useful for boxing. Like bet365, it also has a conveyor belt of general promotions and free bets you can use on boxing events as well. 

How to watch the Joshua Buatsi vs Pawel Stepien fight

• Location: Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
• Date and time: Saturday, May 6, 7pm undercard, Main event ring walks around 10pm 
• How to watch: Sky Sports, Now TV

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