Hutchinson Says Buatsi Is Shot to Bits Ahead of Vacant WBC Title Fight

Willy Hutchinson is convinced Joshua Buatsi is a broken fighter heading into their rematch for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title on November 7 at Manchester's AO Arena.

"He's shot to bits," Hutchinson said. "He's not a young one no more. When you're 33, things change."

Hutchinson's argument is simple: the wars have caught up with Buatsi. A clear decision loss to Callum Smith in early 2025, followed by an unconvincing majority decision win over Zach Parker, left Buatsi looking like a fighter on the decline. Hutchinson believes those fights took something permanent out of him.

There is one problem with that theory. In their first meeting in September 2024, Buatsi won a split decision. He dropped Hutchinson twice, including a body shot in the ninth round that nearly ended the fight. That is not the resume of a man who is finished.

Hutchinson has stayed active since the loss. He stopped Mark Jeffers and handed Ezra Taylor his first career defeat. But the body shot vulnerability remains the elephant in the room heading into the rematch. Buatsi's power was the difference last time, and Hutchinson has to prove he can protect his midsection for twelve rounds.

The vacant WBC light heavyweight title is on the line. Hutchinson is talking like a man who has already figured out the puzzle. Buatsi just needs to prove the puzzle still hits back.