Anthony Yarde backs Joshua Buatsi to beat Willy Hutchinson in Manchester rematch

Yarde wants his domestic rival to win at the AO Arena on 7 November so the pair can finally meet for a world title, though he said Hutchinson offers more entertainment outside the ring.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 28 Oct, 15:12 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Post by @SkySportsBoxing on X

Anthony Yarde is backing Joshua Buatsi to beat Willy Hutchinson for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight world title, with a Buatsi win keeping alive the all-British fight Yarde has long wanted.

Buatsi and Hutchinson meet again on 7 November at the AO Arena in Manchester, two years after their first fight in 2024. Buatsi won that meeting on a decision after knocking Hutchinson down twice.

Yarde and Buatsi have been linked since Buatsi turned professional after winning bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but the two light-heavyweights have never fought. Yarde said he would probably want Buatsi to win so the two of them could fight for a world title, because the public would make it the fight that made more sense.

Yarde said: “I have shown time and time again I'm willing to fight anybody and as soon as it got to the point where the public, the pundits and everybody was calling for this fight, I said let's make it happen.” He said he would probably rather have fought Buatsi in England for a world title than travel to Saudi Arabia, and that he would have preferred the Buatsi fight to facing David Benavidez or Artur Beterbiev. He added: “I am not saying because it's an easier fight or anything like that, it is because in my opinion it was a bigger fight.” Yarde was less complimentary about Buatsi away from boxing, saying Hutchinson is the better promoter of a fight by some distance. He said: “Buatsi is as boring as watching paint dry outside of the ring.” Yarde added that, given the importance he places on entertainment outside the ring, a fight with Hutchinson would also make sense.

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Joshua Buatsi Willy Hutchinson