Croydon boxer Joshua Buatsi could be forgiven for wanting a break after a gruelling schedule in and out of the ring over the past year.

The 22-year-old retained his light-heavyweight English Boxing Elite Championship title against Ashley Vanzie in Liverpool last month.

It followed last year's success in the 81kg category as well as tournament golds at the Bocskai Memorial in Macedonia and the Golden Gong in Hungary in the past 12 months.

Buatsi is also studying management studies and sports science at university and has had to juggle training with academia.

He said: "I can't describe it, if I haven't been training, then I've been studying. It's just been non-stop for the past year.

"I've got my last exam on Friday and I can't say it's been impossible because I've managed it, but it has been full-on."

Victory in Liverpool was secured with an unanimous points win over Vanzie, after defeating Gary Mayor (unanimous) and Bryce Goodridge (unanimous) in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

Buatsi admitted the pressure was different in this year's competition.

He said: "I think a lot of people were looking at me this year and thinking 'he's the guy to beat'.

"But my class showed over the three bouts. I had to fight three very different opponents, but was able to beat whatever they put in front of me."

After his exams, focus for the South Norwood & Victory boxer falls on selection for the GB team at the European Games in Azerbaijan in June and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

"Training is going well and I'm doing all that I can to be selected. I am fully prepared for what could happen this year and next," he added.

"My club trainers, Terry Smith and Mark Gillespie, have been inspirational and I can't thank them enough for all they do."