‘Buglioni is all front. He has bottled it’
HOSEA Burton says he has lost respect for rival Frank Buglioni after revealing Buglioni turned down the option to face him on Saturday.
Buglioni was scheduled to fight Burton’s team-mate Callum Johnson at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, but Johnson has been forced to pull out of the bout due to health issues.
Burton says he was approved by the British Boxing Board of Control to replace Johnson in the contest at short notice, but Buglioni will instead face Craig Richards.
British champion Buglioni defeated Burton for the title back in December, stopping the Manchester boxer in the 12th round while he was down on the judges’ scorecards.
A rematch has been touted ever since then, but it won’t be happening this weekend, much to the anger of Burton.
“I always thought Buglioni was a fighting man but he’s showed what he is. He’s all front. He’s been put on his toes and has bottled it,” Burton told M.E.N. Sport.
“I’ve lost a bit of respect for him. I’m surprised he’s turned me down because he’s been in a good 10 or 12-week camp. I’ve only had a few days’ notice. If it was the other way round I’d have taken him at short notice. Obviously he’s scared.
“He can run but he can’t hide. Eventually he will have to fight me and he will get beat. In the first fight I’d won 10 of the 12 rounds before he stopped me, but now he doesn’t want to fight me again.
“He’s fighting Craig Richards now, and he was the Southern Area super-middleweight champion. When I was champion I wasn’t allowed to defend against Tomi Tatham or Liam Conroy, and they’re both light-heavyweights.
“Buglioni has gone for the easiest route. I’d have loved to have fought on the Joshua bill as I like seeing Joshua fight, but it’s one of them things. I would still like a couple of fights before the end of the year though.”