Willy Hutchinson says he is in a good place ahead of Joshua Buatsi rematch at AO Arena on 7 November
Willy Hutchinson says he is in a good place as he prepares to face Joshua Buatsi in a rematch for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title at Manchester's AO Arena on Saturday, 7 November. The 28-year-old Scotsman told BBC Scotland he has struggled emotionally in the past but is now “very happy and everything's just good.”
Boxing’s solitary nature has been central to Hutchinson’s experience, with long training camps and small teams his routine since turning professional. Hutchinson made his professional debut in 2017 and will make his 23rd ring walk as a pro in Manchester; he was the first Scot to win gold at an amateur World Championships in 2016 and has won 20 of his 22 professional fights. He said becoming a world champion would be especially meaningful because he was “born in Scotland, lived in Lanark all of my life” and boxed out of Springhall Amateur Boxing Club in Shotts.
Hutchinson described deep lows after fights, citing his reaction to the Mark Jeffers contest: "When I fought Mark Jeffers, I didn't want to see anyone for a week after the fight," he said. "I got real down, real down. But listen, things are different. It's always a thing with me of being good, you know? And I'm grateful to be happy. It's a very difficult thing for me to find."
He reiterated his ambition for the WBC title in personal terms, saying: "There's no bigger thing I believe in boxing than the WBC world title. So it's everything to me, and I'll be getting it with both hands." Hutchinson also noted the length of his involvement in the sport, adding "I started boxing when I was nine years old."
Hutchinson and Buatsi first met on the undercard of Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September 2024, a fight Hutchinson lost by split decision after being knocked down twice but recovering to take rounds between the knockdowns. Their rivalry has continued, with exchanges on social media, and Hutchinson pledged a different performance this time: "This time I'm going to put the performance on I should have done two years ago," he said. "So he's going to be meeting a different Willy Hutchinson this time. I'm going to be there and I'm going to be taking that world title back home with me, I can tell you that."
Buatsi, 33, is an Olympic bronze medallist who suffered his first professional defeat to Callum Smith before returning with a win over Zach Parker, details the article records. Hutchinson, reflecting on Buatsi's form, said: "Joshua Buatsi is not a person I would be overthinking about. He's never looked too good, has he? He took a very bad loss against Callum Smith and then that other lad he fought [Zach Parker] made him look terrible, didn't he?"
Hutchinson has rebuilt since the loss to Buatsi, stopping Mark Jeffers and recording a decision victory over Ezra Taylor, and he previewed his preparation: "The hard work's done. The hardest thing of fighting Joshua Buatsi was the camp I just did. I've just got to go and do my job, but I should make an easy night's work of it." He will contest the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title in Manchester on Saturday, 7 November, in what he hopes will be his crowning moment.