Hutchinson Outpoints Buatsi in Rematch; WBC Title Wording Explained

MANCHESTER — This time, the decision belonged to Willy Hutchinson. He defeated Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision in their November 7 rematch at the AO Arena, with scores of 117-112, 115-113 and 115-113.

Boxing News and BoxingScene independently reported the same three scorecards. DAZN announced Hutchinson as the new WBC light heavyweight world champion:

What was the title status? The full-world-title description has direct support from the WBC's October 27 preview, which says vacant world title, and Queensberry's “A Feud Revisited”, which calls it the WBC World Light Heavyweight Championship. DAZN's result announcement uses world champion too.

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However, the WBC's November 6 weigh-in report still calls it interim, as does Queensberry's original event listing. Those official pages conflict. Our weigh-in story 261 used interim; readers should not treat that earlier label as a settled ruling. We report the full-title claim with its sources rather than invent an explanation for the discrepancy.

On the undercard, Jack Rafferty defeated Hovhannes Martirosyan by unanimous decision to take the vacant IBO welterweight title. World Boxing News and Bad Left Hook agree on the result and scores: 116-111, 116-111 and 114-113.

Kimster's take: the title paperwork deserves clarity, but the decision does not need translating. All three judges had Hutchinson ahead. The rematch delivered the result he wanted, and the next discussion should start with that win rather than a promise about who comes next.

For the wider weekend picture, revisit our fight-week guide. Before the next card, try Guess the Purse for a different kind of ringside prediction.

Update: ESPN and Sky Sports describe Hutchinson's win as securing the vacant WBC title. ESPN reports that David Benavidez gave up the belt to concentrate on cruiserweight. This is ESPN's explanation, not a new WBC ruling obtained by Boxbid; Sky's report confirms the vacant-title description but does not supply that explanation.

ESPN quotes Hutchinson saying in the ring: “I was 13 years old when I said I would be WBC champion, I wrote it in a book, and now I am world champion.” He added, according to ESPN: “I should have beaten him two years ago, but we got the job done with balls of steel.” Of Anthony Yarde, ESPN reports Hutchinson said: “I want him [Yarde] next.” That is a callout, not an announced fight.