Two fighters who have been building towards this since September 2024 finally get the prize they were denied the first time: a vacant WBC World Light Heavyweight title and a definitive answer to who belongs at the top of British light heavyweight boxing.
Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson headline at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 7 November 2026, live on DAZN worldwide. Their first meeting was one of the best British domestic fights of 2024. This one has a world title on the line.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Venue | AO Arena, Manchester |
| Division | Light Heavyweight (175 lbs) |
| Scheduled rounds | 12 |
| Title | Vacant WBC World Light Heavyweight |
| Promotion | Queensberry Promotions |
| Broadcast | DAZN (worldwide) |
Joshua Buatsi, 33, is Ghanaian-born and British-based — a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist with a record of 20-1 and 13 knockouts across 133 professional rounds. He is patient in the early rounds and clinical to the body, and his two knockdowns of Hutchinson in the first fight illustrated both strengths.
The one blemish arrived in February 2025 when Callum Smith outboxed him on a unanimous decision. Buatsi responded by outpointing Zach Parker on a majority decision in November 2025 to re-enter the WBC picture.
Willy Hutchinson, 28, is Scottish, orthodox, and brings 14 stoppages from 22 professional contests. His 6’1” frame is compact for the division but he fights with unusual intensity — pressing opponents and forcing exchanges at close range.
After losing to Buatsi in September 2024, Hutchinson rebuilt with consecutive wins: a seventh-round TKO of Mark Jeffers in October 2025 and a unanimous decision over Ezra Taylor in March 2026. He arrives on a two-fight winning streak.
| Joshua Buatsi | Willy Hutchinson | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 20-1 | 20-2 |
| KO wins | 13 (65%) | 14 (70%) |
| Age | 33 | 28 |
| Nationality | Ghanaian | Scottish |
| Height | 6’2” / 188 cm | 6’1” / 185 cm |
| Reach | 74.4” / 189 cm | 72.8” / 185 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Total rounds | 133 | 103 |
Buatsi holds the physical edges — two inches taller, 1.6 inches more reach — and has 30 more rounds of professional mileage in his legs. Hutchinson is five years younger and has a marginally higher stoppage rate against a comparable level of opposition.
Joshua Buatsi — last five fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | Zach Parker | W | MD | 10 |
| Feb 2025 | Callum Smith | L | UD | 12 |
| Sep 2024 | Willy Hutchinson | W | SD | 12 |
| Feb 2024 | Dan Azeez | W | UD | 12 |
| May 2023 | Pawel Stepien | W | UD | 10 |
Willy Hutchinson — last five fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | Ezra Taylor | W | UD | 10 |
| Oct 2025 | Mark Jeffers | W | TKO | 7 |
| Sep 2024 | Joshua Buatsi | L | SD | 12 |
| Jun 2024 | Craig Richards | W | UD | 12 |
| Mar 2024 | Martin Houben | W | TKO | 2 |
Hutchinson’s form reads better over the last 12 months. Buatsi’s recent record contains a unanimous-decision loss to Smith — who challenges Dmitry Bivol (WBA/WBO/IBF champion) in December — and a majority decision over Parker that divided opinion.
Buatsi won on a split decision at Wembley Stadium on 21 September 2024 — scorecards 117-108 and 115-110 for Buatsi, 113-112 for Hutchinson. Buatsi landed a right hand knockdown in the sixth and a body-shot knockdown in the ninth; Hutchinson had a point deducted in the seventh for use of the head. He survived to the bell, but the two knockdowns made the deficit insurmountable on two of the three cards.
Buatsi collected the WBO Interim Light Heavyweight title that night. The WBC belt is the bigger prize.
The tactical question centres on what Hutchinson does differently from a position of disadvantage. In the first fight he started well but paid for standing still and trading in the mid-rounds — exactly where Buatsi’s body work and right hand are most dangerous.
Hutchinson needs higher volume early and more lateral movement to disrupt Buatsi’s rhythm. The TKO of Jeffers showed he can impose tempo; the question is whether he can sustain it for 12 rounds against a longer, more accurate opponent without getting pulled into exchanges he lost badly in 2024.
Buatsi’s challenge is whether the knockdown blueprint still works. Those body shots landed partly because Hutchinson didn’t respect them until too late — he’ll be drilled on that now. And Buatsi has looked hittable since then: the Smith loss was comprehensive, and the Parker majority decision didn’t restore his aura. Hutchinson sees opportunity in that.
For Buatsi:
For Hutchinson:
Odds: Buatsi 5/6 (-120), Hutchinson 5/6 (-120), draw 14/1 (William Hill, 2 Nov 2026)
The market cannot separate these two — both fighters at near even money is about as tight as a world title fight gets. The oddsmakers are essentially saying this is a coin flip, which is backed up by how close their first meeting was on the cards.
Buatsi still has the stronger case: the physical advantages, the more experienced résumé at world level, and he’s already proven he can drop and hurt Hutchinson. But Hutchinson is five years younger, arrives on a two-fight winning streak, and has had two years to address exactly what went wrong at Wembley.
Prediction: Buatsi on points (split or majority decision). Hutchinson makes it harder this time and possibly takes a card or two, but Buatsi’s accuracy and body work edge it. At near even money, there’s genuine value in either corner.
| Platform | Coverage |
|---|---|
| DAZN | Worldwide (subscription required) |
| BBC Sport | Live text commentary from 21:00 GMT |
UK times (estimated): Main card approximately 19:00 GMT; ringwalks for the main event approximately 22:00 GMT. All timings are estimates and subject to change — no confirmed start has been announced.
US times (estimated): Main card approximately 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT; main event ringwalks approximately 17:00 ET / 14:00 PT.
The card also features Jack Rafferty vs Hovhannes Martirosyan for the vacant IBO welterweight title and Bradley Rea vs Ezra Taylor (light heavyweight). Manchester’s unbeaten Rafferty brings strong local support to the AO Arena.
Where is Buatsi vs Hutchinson 2 taking place? AO Arena, Manchester, on Saturday 7 November 2026.
What title is on the line? The vacant WBC World Light Heavyweight title, vacated by David Benavidez when he moved up to cruiserweight.
What was the result of the first fight? Joshua Buatsi won on a split decision on 21 September 2024 at Wembley Stadium, with scorecards reading 117-108, 115-110 (Buatsi) and 113-112 (Hutchinson). Buatsi knocked Hutchinson down twice.
How can I watch in the UK? Live on DAZN. BBC Sport will carry live text coverage from 21:00 GMT.
How can I watch in the US? DAZN, with main card coverage from approximately 14:00 ET.
What are the odds for Buatsi vs Hutchinson 2? Both fighters are priced at 5/6 (-120 US) with William Hill as of 2 November 2026, making this one of the most evenly-matched world title fights in British boxing this year. The draw is 14/1.
What are Buatsi and Hutchinson’s current records? Buatsi is 20-1 with 13 knockouts; Hutchinson is 20-2 with 14 stoppages.
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