Key points

  • Willy Hutchinson defeated Joshua Buatsi by a judges' decision in Manchester to win the WBC light-heavyweight title, according to BBC Sport.
  • The triumph avenged Hutchinson's 2024 defeat against the same opponent and lifted his professional record to 21 wins and two losses, BBC Sport reported.
  • Hutchinson became the eighth British light-heavyweight champion and the first since 2017, as stated by BBC Sport.

According to BBC Sport, Willy Hutchinson produced the performance of his career in Manchester to defeat Joshua Buatsi and claim the WBC light-heavyweight championship in a tense rematch.

Key Details

BBC Sport reported that the judges scored the bout 117-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favour of Hutchinson, handing Londoner Joshua Buatsi only the second defeat of his 22-fight professional career. The contest had originally been scheduled for the interim title before being upgraded following American fighter David Benavidez's decision to vacate the gold in order to move up to the cruiserweight division, according to the same report.

The 28-year-old Scot fulfilled a childhood ambition with the win, noting that he had written down his dream of becoming a WBC world champion in a notebook at age 13 while his father worked in Sweden, BBC Sport said. Fight week discussions had centered on suggestions that the five-years-older Buatsi was past his prime, and BBC Sport noted that the Londoner did little to counter those claims during the bout.

Context and Impact

Ticket sales for the world title showdown were described as modest, failing to capture widespread attention from the British public, according to BBC Sport. Nonetheless, the crowd inside the venue generated a raucous atmosphere heavily backing Hutchinson, who entered the ring to cheers while Buatsi faced boos, BBC Sport reported.

Summary and What Next

Hutchinson now holds the WBC light-heavyweight crown following his victory at the AO Arena. Future bouts and defences for the newly crowned champion remain to be announced by promoters.