Willy Hutchinson opens up about overcoming emotional turmoil as he prepares to face Joshua Buatsi in a rematch for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title this Saturday at Manchester’s AO Arena. The 28-year-old fighter admits that the isolated nature of the sport has previously left him feeling down even after victories, but he now finds himself in a positive mindset ahead of the bout.
Finding Happiness and Chasing Scottish History
Hutchinson told BBC Sport that he values his current happiness after previously struggling with the psychological toll of fighting, mentioning that following his bout against Mark Jeffers he preferred not to see anyone for a week. As he walks to the ring for the 23rd time in his professional career, he aims to end a three-and-a-half-year drought since Scotland last had a world champion following Josh Taylor’s reign. Proud of his roots in Lanark and his beginnings at Springhall Amateur Boxing Club in Shotts, Hutchinson stated that winning the WBC belt means everything to him.
Seeking Revenge and World Glory
The pair first met in September 2024 on the undercard of Daniel Dubois against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, where Hutchinson recovered from two knockdowns before losing a split-decision. Since that defeat, Hutchinson has rebuilt his career with wins over Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor, while Buatsi bounced back from a loss against Callum Smith by defeating Zach Parker. Hutchinson expressed confidence ahead of the rematch, stating that he plans to deliver the performance he missed out on two years ago and secure the world title.
