by Adam Josephson
Joshua Buatsi is set for a high-stakes showdown with Willy Hutchinson, with the winner poised to stay in contention for a world light-heavyweight title fight. The bout, ordered for the WBO interim title, positions the victor as a prime challenger ahead of the highly anticipated rescheduled clash between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
Initially, a purse bid was called to determine the terms of the Buatsi vs. Hutchinson fight. However, the WBO has now confirmed that both parties have reached an agreement, with the date and venue yet to be announced.
Hutchinson is riding high after achieving a career-defining victory earlier this month, defeating Craig Richards by unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia. Buatsi, on the other hand, is coming off a points win over Dan Azeez in February, extending his unbeaten record to 18 victories. The Londoner had been eyeing a much-anticipated bout with Anthony Yarde, but with negotiations falling through, he has turned his focus to the critical match against the Scottish contender, who boasts an impressive record of 18 wins and just one loss.
The broader context of this bout is the injury to Artur Beterbiev, which postponed his defense of the WBC, WBO, and IBF titles against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, initially set for June 1. Bivol, in turn, successfully defended his WBA belt with a sixth-round stoppage of Malik Zinad, and the clash with Beterbiev is now expected to take place on October 12.
This pivotal fight between Buatsi and Hutchinson will thus play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of the light-heavyweight division.
