At the weigh-in for their WBC light-heavyweight title clash on Saturday, Joshua Buatsi faced booing from fans supporting Willy Hutchinson. The two fighters—Scotland’s Hutchinson and London’s Buatsi—are set to meet again at Manchester’s AO Arena, over two years after Buatsi secured a dramatic split-decision victory in their first encounter.
During the weigh-in at Manchester’s Freight Island, Buatsi responded to the jeers by cupping his ears and engaging with Hutchinson’s crowd. “He’s acting like we haven’t faced each other before, but we have. I’m looking forward to the crowd—I’ll see you all there,” Buatsi said confidently.
Originally scheduled as an interim title bout, Saturday’s fight was elevated to a full WBC championship after American David Benavidez relinquished the belt to move up to cruiserweight.
Hutchinson, aged 28, was the first to step on the scales during the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, receiving loud cheers from his fervent supporters. Buatsi, however, had to step on the scales twice during the official weigh-in after initially coming in an ounce (28 grams) over the light-heavyweight limit. The 33-year-old then made the required championship weight of 12st 7lb (79kg) after removing his clothes. Later that evening, Hutchinson mocked Buatsi’s earlier weight issue during their face-off.
Buatsi, who earned an Olympic bronze medal in 2016, heads into the biggest bout of his career with a professional record of 20 wins and one loss. Hutchinson, the first Scottish boxer to win gold at the amateur World Championships, boasts a record of 20 wins and two defeats.
Thursday’s press conference was a low-key, media-only affair that shielded Buatsi from hostile fans during fight week. However, Friday’s weigh-in, attended by about 100 spectators, gave him a taste of the intense reception he’ll face during his ring entrance on Saturday.
The atmosphere in Manchester was charged with tension as the fighters stood face-to-face, with Hutchinson repeatedly shouting “and the new” in a show of confidence. Hutchinson believes he is the superior boxer and told the excited crowd he plans to prove what Buatsi is truly “made of” tomorrow, 100%.
Fan Take: This highly anticipated rematch is more than just a title fight; it’s a clash of rising stars with deep personal and national pride on the line. For fight fans, the outcome could shift the balance in the light-heavyweight division and set the stage for exciting future rivalries in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
