Hutchinson Avenges Buatsi Defeat to Claim Vacant WBC Light-Heavyweight Crown

Two years ago at Wembley, Joshua Buatsi dropped Willy Hutchinson twice and took a split decision that left the Scot with a grievance and a dream. On Saturday night in Manchester, Hutchinson settled both.

Hutchinson outboxed Buatsi over 12 rounds at the AO Arena to win the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title by unanimous decision, the judges scoring it 117-112 and 115-113 twice, all for the 28-year-old from Carstairs. It was a mature, poised performance from a fighter who had learned the lessons of their first meeting — he mixed his natural boxing ability and flair with discipline, never letting Buatsi drag him into the kind of exchanges that had cost him twice on the canvas in 2024.

The belt had been vacant since undefeated American David Benavidez gave it up last month to continue his career as a cruiserweight, and the rematch carried the weight of a genuine world title fight. Buatsi, 33, from Croydon and a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, came in as the man with the rivalry edge and the bigger reputation. Hutchinson came in as the man with the fresher form, having stopped Mark Jeffers and outclassed Ezra Taylor on points in March, while Buatsi had lost his unbeaten record on points to former super-middleweight champion Callum Smith in 2025 and then eked out a close, dull majority decision over Zach Parker.

From the opening bell, Hutchinson boxed like a man who had waited two years for this exact night. He had been on the floor twice in the first fight and lost a split decision; this time he stayed upright, stayed composed, and made Buatsi chase a fight that never came to him. The scores reflected a clear night's work rather than a coin toss — 117-112 on one card, 115-113 on the other two — and when the verdict was read, Hutchinson had completed the journey from amateur world champion to professional world champion.

The win makes Hutchinson the eighth British light-heavyweight world champion, and the first since Nathan Cleverly in 2017. His record now reads 21 wins and two defeats, with 14 knockouts. Buatsi falls to 20-2 with 13 knockouts, his second professional defeat in 22 fights, and a rivalry that has simmered since their amateur days now sits at one win apiece — only this time, the one that mattered most went to Hutchinson.

What comes next is the division's biggest prize. Russia's Dmitry Bivol, the WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine light-heavyweight champion, defends his titles against Britain's Callum Smith in Yekaterinburg on December 12. Hutchinson, holding the WBC belt, now sits squarely in the unification picture, one fight away from a shot at the undisputed crown. For a fighter who once had to get off the floor twice just to stay in a fight with Buatsi, that is a remarkable turnaround — and on Saturday night in Manchester, he earned every bit of it.