Boxing fans are gearing up for an explosive sequel on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, as Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson lock horns once more. Their initial encounter easily secured a spot among the most thrilling bouts of 2024.

While the official judges' scorecards heavily favored Buatsi, anyone who watched the action knows the contest was far tighter than the final tallies suggest. Those wide margins were largely influenced by a pair of knockdowns that Buatsi inflicted upon Hutchinson.

A closer look at the ringside scoring reveals a split in perspective: one judge remarkably scored the bout 113–112 in favor of Hutchinson, whereas the other two submitted cards of 117–108 and 115–110 for Buatsi.

The stakes are even higher this time around, with the upcoming DAZN main event on November 7 officially sanctioned for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title.

Buatsi vs. Hutchinson 2 Key Facts

Their inaugural clash unfolded in September 2024 at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois showdown, with the interim WBO championship hanging in the balance. During that fierce battle, Buatsi floored Hutchinson with a sharp right hand in the sixth round and followed up with a debilitating body shot late in the ninth.

Buatsi vs. Hutchinson 1 Scorecards

Initially greenlit as a battle for the WBC interim title, this high-stakes rematch was elevated to full championship status after David Benavidez relinquished the belt ahead of his December 5 cruiserweight unification clash against Michal Cieslak.

Could Joshua Buatsi’s Recent Wars Give Willy Hutchinson an Advantage?

This upcoming tactical chess match carries immense intrigue because, since their first meeting, Buatsi has accumulated a notable amount of ring wear and tear.

Having endured a tough loss to Callum Smith alongside at least one other punishing battle, questions linger regarding the long-term impact on his physical prime.

Enduring a career filled with punishing wars naturally invites speculation over whether this is the night we witness a noticeable decline in his athletic output.

Consequently, analysts and observers are increasingly pointing toward Willy Hutchinson as the fighter positioned to seize a definitive edge in the rematch.

Could Buatsi’s Regression Matter More Than Hutchinson’s Improvement?

Sporting a professional record of 20-2 with 14 knockouts, Hutchinson has steadily rebuilt momentum by securing victories over Mark Jeffers in October 2025 and Ezra Taylor in March.

While Hutchinson’s continuous technical development remains a critical element, the true catalyst of this sequel may ultimately be Buatsi's physical regression.

Experience in high-level rematches often points toward backing the younger athlete when variables align. At 28 years old, Hutchinson holds a vital five-year age advantage over the 33-year-old Buatsi, further bolstering his case for the second encounter.

Buatsi vs. Hutchinson 2 Undercard

Prediction: Willy Hutchinson Defeats Joshua Buatsi by Decision

Given Buatsi's legendary toughness and the reality that Hutchinson is not typically recognized as a one-punch knockout artist, this championship fight is widely expected to go the distance.

Ultimately, Hutchinson appears poised to showcase superior stamina, outbox his rival over the championship rounds, and secure a hard-fought victory on the judges' scorecards.

An upset win here could instantly lay the groundwork for a trilogy fight, but for now, the prediction firmly favors Hutchinson to get his hand raised.