The AO Arena in Manchester played host to a dramatic and consequential night of world championship boxing as Willy Hutchinson secured a stunning unanimous decision victory over Joshua Buatsi. In a fiercely contested battle that served as an explosive rematch of their September 2024 encounter, Hutchinson turned the tables on his compatriot, outworking him in the early stages and successfully fending off a late surge to capture the vacant WBC light heavyweight title.
The coveted world championship belt had become vacant following a strategic decision by unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, who opted to officially relinquish the gold to remain campaigning in the 200-pound division. This administrative shift opened the door for Buatsi and Hutchinson to square off under the bright lights in Manchester, presenting both fighters with a golden opportunity to cement their legacies and etch their names into the history books as the division’s newest ruler.
For Hutchinson, the victory serves as sweet redemption following their first meeting at Wembley Stadium in London. On that autumn evening, Buatsi had controlled the narrative by dropping Hutchinson twice on his way to a hard-fought split decision win. This time around, however, the tactical landscape of the fight shifted dramatically as Hutchinson entered the ring with a sharper game plan, superior hand speed, and a fierce determination to rectify the mistakes of their previous outing.
The road to this world title opportunity has been fraught with grueling challenges and high-stakes contests for both men since they last shared a ring. Following his victory over Hutchinson at Wembley, Buatsi found himself matched against Callum Smith in February 2025 in what many pundits and fans regarded as a definitive Fight of the Year contender. Although Buatsi emerged on the wrong side of that brutal war, he managed to rebound in his subsequent appearance, securing a controversial majority decision victory over Zach Parker to maintain his momentum heading into the world title picture.
Hutchinson, meanwhile, used the aftermath of his Wembley defeat to rebuild his confidence and sharpen his craft. His journey back to world championship contention featured a pair of notable victories, starting with a decisive stoppage win over Mark Jeffers. He followed that performance up with a disciplined and commanding unanimous decision victory against Ezra Taylor in March, setting the stage perfectly for his high-stakes redemption mission against Buatsi in Manchester.
As the opening bell sounded, it quickly became apparent that Hutchinson had learned valuable lessons from their first encounter. The challenger dominated the early portion of the fight, utilizing his exceptional speed to outmaneuver Buatsi and land crisp counter-punches. Buatsi, by contrast, endured a surprisingly sluggish start. The London-based contender struggled to establish his rhythm, finding it difficult to penetrate Hutchinson’s tight defense or get a genuine foothold in the bout during the opening frames.
Hutchinson’s early success was reflected on the unofficial live scorecard provided by Boxing News during the event’s progression. The early rounds saw Hutchinson consistently banking crucial points by beating Buatsi to the punch and controlling the distance. While the official judges ultimately scored the bout 117-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favor of Hutchinson, the live tracking throughout the contest highlighted how vital those early, dominant rounds proved to be in establishing an unassailable lead.
Despite falling behind on the scorecards, Buatsi demonstrated the heart and resilience expected of a top-tier contender. As the fight progressed past the halfway stage, the momentum began to shift. Buatsi mounted a significant comeback in the championship rounds, digging deep into his physical reserves and increasing his work rate. He began to find success with heavier punches, walking Hutchinson down and dictating the pace of the exchanges as fatigue began to set in.
By the time the final bell rang to signal the end of the twelfth round, it was clear that Buatsi had finished the contest as the stronger and more aggressive of the two men. However, the early deficit proved too steep a mountain to climb completely. Hutchinson’s disciplined start, coupled with his ability to weather the storm during Buatsi’s late-round onslaught, proved decisive.
When the official decision was read aloud inside the AO Arena, Hutchinson was announced as the winner via unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the contest 117-112, 115-113, and 115-113. The verdict crowned Hutchinson as the new WBC light heavyweight champion, marking a career-defining triumph and cementing his status as Britain’s latest world titleholder.
