Buatsi jeered at weigh-in ahead of WBC light-heavyweight rematch in Manchester

Joshua Buatsi was booed by supporters of Willy Hutchinson at the weigh-in for their WBC light-heavyweight title rematch at Manchester's AO Arena on Saturday. The encounter is a return to the ring just over two years after Buatsi, the Londoner, earned a split-decision victory in their first meeting.

The pair stepped on the scales at Manchester's Freight Island, where Buatsi cupped his ears and encouraged the jeers from Hutchinson's following. "He's talking like we haven't done it before but we have. I'm excited about the crowd - I'll see you all there," Buatsi said, and the bout had been elevated from an interim title fight after American David Benavidez relinquished the WBC belt to move up to cruiserweight.

Hutchinson was first onto the scales at Friday's ceremonial weigh-in and was greeted by huge cheers from his boisterous crowd. Buatsi required two attempts in the official weigh-in on Friday morning after he was initially an ounce (28 grammes) over the light-heavyweight limit; the 33-year-old made the championship weight of 12st 7lb (79kg) at the second attempt after taking his clothes off.

Later on Friday evening the fighters came face to face, and Hutchinson made a derogatory reference to Buatsi being overweight. There was a tense nose-to-nose exchange in Manchester with Hutchinson shouting "and the new" several times and telling the excitable crowd he will show them what Buatsi is "made of tomorrow - 100%."

Thursday's news conference had been a media-only, laid-back event that shielded Buatsi from public jeers during the biggest fight week of his career. By contrast, Friday's weigh-in, held in front of around 100 members of the public, offered Buatsi a preview of the reception he may receive on his ringwalk.

Buatsi, who won Olympic bronze in 2016, enters the contest with a professional record of 20 wins and one defeat. Hutchinson, the first Scottish boxer to win gold at an amateur World Championships, holds a record of 20 wins and two defeats.

The rematch for the WBC light-heavyweight title takes place on Saturday at Manchester's AO Arena.