Willy Hutchinson gets revenge on Joshua Buatsi to become WBC light heavyweight champion

The judges scored the Manchester rematch 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113, two years after Buatsi won their first fight on a split decision at Wembley.

Willy Hutchinson beat Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC light heavyweight title at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night, avenging his split-decision defeat to Buatsi in 2024.

The judges scored it 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113. It is the first world title of Hutchinson's career, and it moves him to 21-2. Buatsi is now 20-2.

Hutchinson built his lead early with his jab, counters and movement, but his output dropped in the second half and Buatsi came back into the fight with body punching and pressure.

"There was no need for the fight to be that close," analyst Carl Frampton said. "Willy let him back into it." Analyst Darren Barker said: "The right man, 100 percent, absolutely won that contest."

"I said I was gonna be champion of the world," Hutchinson said after the fight, adding that he should have beaten Buatsi two years ago. "Who wants it next?"

At the final press conference for the fight, Hutchinson said he wrote in a book at the age of 13 that he would become WBC champion of the world, and that he told Buatsi in the changing room after their first fight: "I'm telling you, I'll get you. And here I am."

The WBC title was vacated by David Benavidez when he moved up to cruiserweight. Anthony Yarde had backed Buatsi to win the rematch so the two of them could fight for a world title.

On the undercard, Jack Rafferty won the vacant IBO welterweight title against Hovhannes Martirosyan.

READ NEXTWilly Hutchinson calls out Anthony Yarde and Yarde says it is '100% a fight I want to take'Read the next story →

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