- Joshua Buatsi (20-1, 13 KOs) and Willy Hutchinson (20-2, 14 KOs) fight for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 7 November, live on DAZN
- Buatsi won the first fight by split decision in September 2024, flooring Hutchinson twice along the way
- My view: Buatsi wins a close, tense decision, but the bookmakers calling it a pick'em are not mad
A Rematch With A World Title Attached
Right then. Joshua Buatsi against Willy Hutchinson is back, and this time there is a vacant WBC light heavyweight title on the line at the AO Arena in Manchester. Buatsi vs Hutchinson 2 is on DAZN, with the main card starting at 7pm UK time and the prelims on the DAZN YouTube channel from 4pm. Let's not beat around the bush, this is a proper 50-50 fight.
The first meeting was at Wembley in September 2024. Buatsi won a split decision over 12 rounds and put Hutchinson down twice, with two judges at 117-108 and 115-110 and the third somehow having it 113-112 the other way. That scoreline tells you two things. Buatsi was clearly better. And Hutchinson was never out of it.
The Tale Of The Tape
Buatsi is 33, 20-1 with 13 knockouts, and sits fifth in The Ring's light heavyweight ratings. Hutchinson is 28, 20-2 with 14 knockouts, and sits seventh. Hutchinson is the bigger puncher on paper by percentage, and he is younger. Buatsi has the Olympic pedigree and the cleaner technique.
What Buatsi Has To Fix
Here is the worry. Buatsi lost his last big night, then came back in November with a split decision that left plenty of people unimpressed, Hutchinson included, who called it “terrible”. A man who has to grind out a narrow win is not the same animal who dropped Hutchinson twice at Wembley. He needs the sharp, snapping Buatsi back, the one who lands the right hand and moves.
What Hutchinson Brings
Hutchinson is a different fighter to the one at Wembley, or at least he says so. He stopped his opponent in seven in October 2025 and then boxed a 10-round decision in Manchester in March, and he talks about being more experienced and more versatile. Make no mistake, he is a big, strong, orthodox light heavyweight who will walk through shots. If Buatsi lets him get set and throw in volume, this turns ugly quickly.
My Prediction
I will not sit on the fence. Buatsi wins on points, 115-113 or thereabouts. The first fight showed that his speed and his right hand cause Hutchinson real problems, and the Scot has to take risks to change that. Risks against a counter-puncher with Buatsi's hand speed means knockdowns, and that is where the rounds get banked. But it will be close, and if Buatsi has another flat night, Hutchinson takes it. If you know, you know.
The same night, Zuffa Boxing 12 headlines in London, and you can read my full Manchester or London viewing guide to work out how to watch both.