Joshua Buatsi hasn't given up hope on securing a big domestic clash with his light-heavyweight rival Anthony Yarde, insisting the fight could take place by the end of 2025.

Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) and Yarde (26-3, 24 KOs) were two of Britain's highest-rated prospects when they turned professional in 2017 and 2015, respectively, and though both have been in high-profile, entertaining fights since then, neither man has yet to win world title gold.

Yarde has challenged twice for world honours, losing by stoppage to both Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev in valiant efforts, while Buatsi has mainly mixed it on the domestic scene, beating the likes of Dan Azeez and Craig Richards before losing to Callum Smith last month in a fight of the year contender in Riyadh.

The British public have long bayed for Buatsi and Yarde to fight each other, and while discussions have taken place on numerous occasions, terms have never been agreed.

Yarde, however, is in action against Lyndon Arthur for the third time in his career on the Chris Eubank-Conor Benn undercard on April 26, while Buatsi continues to recuperate from his 12-round war with Smith.

Buatsi, who won Olympic bronze at Rio 2016, still believes, though, that he and Yarde can fight at some point this year.

He told The Ring Podcast: "I'm hoping at some point this year we can get it on. I know it's been said many times 'this year, this year, this year'.

"But the way things are looking, I'm hoping this year it can happen.

"[Yarde vs. Arthur] is on a big platform, big stadium, it's co-main, it's 1-1 now, Arthur's gotta be coming to say 'look, the second fight, whatever happened, happened' and Yarde's gotta say 'listen, I stopped you, we're gonna do it again'. It's an interesting fight."

From a logistical standpoint, however, Buatsi vs. Yarde might be a difficult fight to make.

Yarde had a brief promotional dispute with Queensberry Promotions but is now back with Frank Warren and will fight on DAZN moving forwards.

Buatsi is signed to Ben Shalom's Boxxer, whose events are broadcast on Sky Sports.

Given the highly-publicised lack of a professional relationship between Warren and Shalom, it seems most likely that if Buatsi and Yarde are to fight anytime soon, it will take place on a card promoted by Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh.