Willy Hutchinson defeats Joshua Buatsi in Manchester to claim WBC light-heavyweight title
Willy Hutchinson beat Joshua Buatsi in Manchester on Saturday to win the WBC light-heavyweight title, with the judges scoring the rematch 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113. The contest had been for the interim belt but was upgraded after David Benavidez relinquished the WBC title to move up to cruiserweight.
The result avenged Hutchinson's split-decision loss to Buatsi in 2024 and improved Hutchinson's professional record to 21 wins with two defeats. Hutchinson, 28, met Londoner Buatsi in a second meeting that came just over two years after their first encounter, and fight week included predictions that Buatsi, five years Hutchinson's senior, was past his peak.
Buatsi, who had sent Hutchinson to the canvas twice in their 2024 fight with body shots, was unable to replicate that impact and appeared short of answers as Hutchinson frequently controlled the centre of the ring. Hutchinson mixed rapid triple jabs with stance changes and pushed the tempo in the closing rounds, while Buatsi mounted late advances that were not enough to sway the judges.
Crowd and commercial interest were limited: ticket sales were described as modest, the upper tier of the AO Arena was closed, and fans of Manchester fighter Jack Rafferty left after he won the co-main event. Those in attendance favoured Hutchinson, who received loud cheers on his ring walk, while Buatsi was met with boos as he paraded before the opening bell.
Hutchinson's corner urged him on during the fight, telling him "three rounds and you're a world champion" after the ninth, a message that proved accurate. An emotional Hutchinson said after his win was confirmed: "I want to tell the story one more time. I was 13-years-old. My dad was working in Sweden. I signed it in a book, I said I will become a world champion. Let's go! "Can I say thank you to my coach because I'll you one thing, without him I don't think I'll be here today let alone boxing. This man dug me out of a hole that I never thought that I would get out of, so this is all a bonus baby."
Hutchinson became only the second man to defeat Joshua Buatsi as a professional and the eighth British light-heavyweight champion, the first since Nathan Cleverly in 2017. The bout had originally been an interim title fight before being elevated when Benavidez vacated the belt to move up in weight.
Anthony Yarde was ringside and Hutchinson addressed him after the fight, saying "he's no walkover but let's go. Him next." Prominent upcoming fixtures mentioned in the aftermath include Dmitry Bivol v Callum Smith on 12 December for the remaining light-heavyweight titles, while Ben Whittaker, who holds the WBC silver belt, is ranked third with the organisation and represents another domestic possibility for Hutchinson.