Willy Hutchinson beats Joshua Buatsi to win WBC light heavyweight title

Willy Hutchinson beat Joshua Buatsi in Manchester on Saturday to win the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight championship, BBC News reported. BBC News and BBC Sport both reported that the victory was a rematch following the first meeting between the British rivals. BBC News, Sky Sports, NewsCord, and Boxing News 24 all confirmed that Hutchinson was crowned the new champion. [1][2][4][6][7]

BBC News reported that the 28-year-old Scottish fighter won a tense contest by decision, with judges scoring the bout 117-112, 115-113, and 115-113. The contest was originally planned for the interim belt. However, BBC News noted that it was upgraded to the full title after American boxer David Benavidez relinquished the WBC gold belt to move up to the cruiserweight division. [1]

The fight was the second meeting between the two boxers. BBC News and BBC Sport both reported that 33-year-old Londoner Buatsi won their first fight by split decision in September 2024. BBC Sport noted that Buatsi knocked Hutchinson down twice during that initial bout. [1][2]

Buatsi was born in Ghana and is a British professional boxer, holding the WBO interim light-heavyweight title from 2024 to 2025. He won an Olympic bronze medal in 2016 and held the British light-heavyweight title twice between 2019 and 2024. Hutchinson had recorded two victories since his 2024 loss to Buatsi before winning the rematch. [2][8]