Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson Rematch Upgraded to Full WBC World Title Fight

Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson’s November 7 rematch just became considerably bigger. The WBC confirmed Friday that the British rivals will fight for the vacant full WBC light heavyweight championship at AO Arena in Manchester, upgrading a matchup that had previously been positioned around the interim belt. The change follows David Benavidez’s decision to continue his career at cruiserweight while reserving the option to challenge at 175 pounds again later.

Buatsi already owns a victory over Hutchinson, winning their September 2024 meeting by split decision at Wembley Stadium after scoring knockdowns in the sixth and ninth rounds. Hutchinson has pushed for another opportunity ever since, while Buatsi now gets the chance to turn a familiar rivalry into his first full world championship. Both men enter the rematch with significantly more at stake than simply settling their first result.

The title upgrade also reshapes the light heavyweight picture. Rather than waiting behind Benavidez for an eventual championship opportunity, Buatsi and Hutchinson can now leave Manchester as the WBC’s recognized champion. For Hutchinson, that means a chance to erase the biggest loss of his career while winning a world title in the same night. For Buatsi, another victory would validate the first result and finally deliver the championship he has pursued throughout his professional career.