Hutchinson wins WBC light-heavyweight title — Willy Hutchinson wins the WBC light-heavyweight title after outpointing Joshua Buatsi in their rematch at Manchester’s AO Arena, avenging his 2024 defeat and fulfilling a childhood ambition.
The Scottish fighter, 28, took the decision on all three scorecards — 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113 — to become only the second man to beat Buatsi as a professional.
The bout had been scheduled for the interim belt but was elevated to the full championship when American David Benavidez vacated the WBC title to move up to cruiserweight.
A dream realised
Hutchinson had spoken before the fight about writing down his world-title goal at the age of 13, and he returned to that story in an emotional post-fight interview.
He recalled that his father was working in Sweden at the time, and that he had recorded in a book his intention to become a world champion. He also paid tribute to his coach, saying he did not believe he would be in boxing — let alone standing in the ring — without him, describing the man as having pulled him out of a hole he never thought he would escape.
Victory improves Hutchinson’s record to 21 wins and two defeats. Buatsi, from London, is beaten for the second time in 22 professional contests.
How the fight unfolded
Much of fight week had centred on suggestions that Buatsi, five years older than his opponent, was past his best, and Hutchinson frequently controlled the centre of the ring.
In their first meeting in 2024, Buatsi had been the clear favourite and justified that status with heavy body shots that put Hutchinson down twice. This time Hutchinson, who had said he was a more mature fighter after two wins since that loss, had answers to Buatsi’s attempts to work the body.
Hutchinson entered to cheers while Buatsi was booed during his pre-bell parade, and the crowd inside the arena clearly favoured the Scot. He grew stronger in the later rounds, landing quick triple jabs and switching stances, and his corner told him after the ninth that three more rounds would make him a world champion.
Buatsi pressed late, but Hutchinson held on to take the belt. The upper tier of the AO Arena was closed because of modest ticket sales for a world-title fight, and some fans left after the co-main event, in which Manchester’s Jack Rafferty won.
Hutchinson is the eighth British light-heavyweight champion and the first since Nathan Cleverly in 2017.
What comes next
As a world champion, Hutchinson becomes a target for the division. Former world-title challenger Anthony Yarde was at ringside and entered the ring afterwards; Hutchinson said Yarde was no walkover but called for the fight to be next.
Another route could come from the 12 December meeting between Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith for the division’s other three titles, with the winner a possible opponent for an undisputed bout in 2027. Domestic rival Ben Whittaker, ranked third with the WBC and holder of the silver title, is another potential option.
