Joshua Buatsi Appoints Virgil Hunter As His New Trainer

Joshua Buatsi has linked up with US boxing trainer Virgil Hunter, who has previously trained the likes Andre Ward and Amir Khan.

Virgil Hunter is a well respected trainer having nurtured Andre Ward from his early years as an amateur all the way to his retirement, where Ward won numerous titles as both an amateur and professional. Hunter has also trained a number of other boxers such as Nicola Adams, Abner Mares, Brandon Gonzales, Alfredo Angulo, Karim Mayfield, Chazz Witherspoon, Demetrius Andrade and more.

Buatsi became British champion in 2019 Credit: Matchroom Boxing — Joshua Buatsi won the Lonsdale British Light-Heavyweight Title in 2019 – Image: Matchroom Boxing

When asked about his recent link up, Joshua Buatsi told SkySports: “The public haven’t seen how good I can be, or I will be. I want to unlock the potential that I have got. This addition (Virgil Hunter) to the team will 100 per cent bring the best out of me”

“Part of the reason I was here? Yes. Ward got to the highest level and achieved everything and is someone who operated at my weight. But it’s mainly the style that I like. Each of his fighters translate it differently. Ward messaged me to ask where I’m living, where I’m staying. Last time I was here, he came to see me.”

Super middleweight champion Andre Ward works in the ring as his coach and godfather Virgil Hunter watches from the ropes at Ward's private gym in Hayward, CA, Wednesday May 14, 2014. — Virgil Hunter observing Andre Ward shadow boxing – Image: Michael Short/The Chronicle

“Very calm is the best way to describe him. He is very strategic, he says just enough. He is very, very positive and optimistic. If I don’t get something right straight away, it’s not the end of the world. He has the right mindset”

Buatsi explained how the link-up with Hunter occurred: “When Anthony Joshua fought Andy Ruiz Jr in New York, I met Virgil. I said: ‘I’ll come and train with you one day’ in the sense that I would learn some bits and pieces then go back. That’s where it ended, in June 2019”

“I came out after my last fight, after the swelling went down, in October 2020 for six weeks. It was new to me but I learned so much. I went home to assess. I came to the conclusion that it’s something that needs to be added to my game. This is an addition that I needed.”