Joshua Buatsi: Croydon boxer says Olympic adventure is his way of giving back to the country who took him in as a child

Competitor: Joshua Buatsi was raised in Croydon
Warren Little/Getty Images

London boxer Joshua Buatsi has said his Rio campaign is about “giving back” to Great Britain after he was taken in as a child.

Buatsi, who grew up on the Shrublands estate in Croydon, told of his love for Britain as a “country of opportunity” after moving from his birthplace Ghana aged nine to join his parents.

The 23-year-old, who is part of a 12-strong Team GB squad, faces his first Olympic fight this weekend as the light heavyweight division gets under way.

He told the Standard: “When I came here I remember watching videos of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and that grabbed my attention.

“I’ve grown up in this country, there’s been a support system and everything like that, so in a sense this is a give-back.

“Britain is a country of opportunity for everyone, I’ve just taken the opportunities I can and in a sense this is saying thank you and giving back to the country. I take it very seriously and I’m grateful every time I put a GB vest on.”

Buatsi, who went to Edenham High School, joined South Norwood and Victory boxing club aged 15. He soon found himself training before and after school and then between lectures at St Mary’s University, where he is in his final year of a management studies and sports science degree.

“All my free time went into boxing and each year it’s got more serious for me.

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“The thing that’s been most difficult is trying to balance everything with my education. Training three times a day while doing research and writing [university] essays was hard,” he said.

“Representing Great Britain, for me, is an honour and a privilege. I feel blessed to be in this position. I am going to do the best I can and represent the country in the best way possible.”

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