By Sohaib Shams
British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi has spoken candidly about his rivalry with Willy Hutchinson as the pair prepare to meet again in a world-title fight this weekend.
Pre-fight tension
Recalling their first encounter in 2024, Buatsi revealed that he grabbed Hutchinson by the neck during a heated face-off, prompting a call from his mother who was unhappy with his loss of composure. Buatsi downplayed the incident, saying he had faced far more hostile situations outside boxing.
Rematch details
The rematch takes place on Saturday at Manchester’s AO Arena with the vacant WBC light-heavyweight belt on the line. Buatsi, 33, won their first bout at Wembley by decision, but both fighters have since taken different paths.
Recent form
Since 2024, Hutchinson has won two fights, while Buatsi suffered a close decision loss to Callum Smith before edging past Zach Parker. Buatsi argued that the calibre of his recent opponents was higher than Hutchinson’s.
Handling criticism
Buatsi said he does not read online commentary and feels no disrespect from those favouring Hutchinson. He described his mindset as cold during fights but normal before and after, insisting he remains focused on his own preparation.
Personal growth and charity
The defeat to Smith taught Buatsi resilience, and he credited family, faith and charity work for helping him recover. He highlighted his ongoing projects in Ghana, including supporting a boxing community and providing for orphans, saying he kept his charitable promises despite the loss.
