Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson will fight for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight championship on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Manchester’s AO Arena. The high-stakes rematch follows their contentious first bout over two years ago, with a prestigious world title now on the line.
This main event, promoted by Queensberry Promotions, represents a career-defining opportunity for both British fighters. The winner will not only claim bragging rights but also a seat at the top table of the competitive 175-pound division. Both men successfully made weight on Friday, with Buatsi tipping the scales at 174.9 lbs and Hutchinson coming in at 174.5 lbs.
The WBC title brings a renewed rivalry
The significance of this rematch has been massively amplified by the prize on offer. The bout was upgraded to be for the full WBC world championship after the former titleholder, David Benavidez, vacated the belt to pursue ambitions in the cruiserweight division. This development has turned an intriguing domestic rematch into a globally significant title fight.
For Joshua Buatsi (20-1, 13 KOs), this is a chance to finally secure the major world title that has thus far eluded him. Ranked No. 4 by the WBC and No. 5 by The Ring Magazine, Buatsi has long been considered one of Britain’s top talents. A definitive win would validate his standing and silence any doubts lingering from their first meeting.
Willy Hutchinson (20-2, 14 KOs) enters the ring with a similar hunger for redemption and glory. Holding WBC and Ring rankings of No. 7, he believes he was unfairly denied the verdict in their first encounter. Capturing the green and gold belt would represent a dramatic turnaround and the culmination of his professional journey.
Deconstructing the controversial first encounter
The anticipation for this sequel is rooted in the unresolved drama of their first fight on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. On that night, Buatsi was awarded a split decision victory in a fight that sharply divided observers and the judges themselves. While two officials scored the contest for Buatsi, the memory of the bout is defined by its contentious nature.
Judge Howard Foster scored it 115-110 and Judge Salvador Salva had it a wide 117-108, both in favor of Buatsi. However, Judge Grzegorz Molenda saw the fight differently, scoring it 113-112 for Hutchinson. The split verdict highlighted the contrasting styles and moments of dominance from each fighter, fueling immediate calls for a rematch.
The decisive factor on the scorecards proved to be Buatsi’s power. He sent Hutchinson to the canvas in both the sixth and ninth rounds. Those two knockdowns provided the crucial points swing needed to secure the win on two of the three cards. Without them, the outcome could have been entirely different, a fact that Hutchinson has surely dwelled on.
Paths to the rematch and recent form
Since their first clash, both fighters have taken different paths to arrive at this championship opportunity. Buatsi’s journey has included a significant hurdle. On February 22, 2025, he lost a unanimous decision to Callum Smith in a WBO interim title fight in Saudi Arabia, a setback that tested his resolve.
However, Buatsi bounced back with a hard-fought majority decision victory over Zach Parker in Manchester on November 1, 2025. That win demonstrated his ability to grind out a result and put him back on track for a world title shot. It showed he could recover from adversity, a key trait for any elite fighter.
Hutchinson, meanwhile, has built considerable momentum since his loss to Buatsi. He secured a seventh-round technical knockout against Mark Jeffers in October 2025. He followed that with a convincing unanimous decision win over Ezra Taylor in March 2026, proving he remains a formidable force in the division.
His activity and success have given him confidence heading into this second chance. This matchup stands out on a busy fall schedule that has fans looking ahead to other potential clashes, with some top promoters like Robert Arum predicting big fights for the heavyweight division.
Tale of the tape and strategic keys
Stylistically, this fight presents a fascinating puzzle. Both men are orthodox fighters, but their approaches differ. Buatsi possesses a slight one-inch reach advantage and has more experience in the professional ranks, having fought 133 rounds to Hutchinson’s 103. His key to victory likely lies in his proven power, which was the difference-maker in 2024.
For Buatsi, the challenge is to close the distance and land his heavy shots without being outmaneuvered by the slicker Hutchinson. He cannot afford to let the fight hang in the balance for the judges again. He needs to impose his physical strength and turn the bout into a test of durability, where his power gives him the ultimate edge.
Conversely, Hutchinson’s path to victory is through his technical skill and movement. He must use his footwork and defensive awareness to avoid the punishing shots that cost him dearly last time.
If he can control the range, out-box Buatsi, and stay upright for all 12 rounds, he has every chance of convincing the judges this time, much like how other skilled technicians approach major bouts such as the recent Devin Haney vs Liam Paro unification.
Manchester fight night details and full undercard
The event at the AO Arena will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN worldwide. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. GMT in the UK, which corresponds to 2 p.m. ET and 11 a.m. PT in the United States. The main event ring walks are anticipated to take place at approximately 10 p.m.
GMT / 5 p.m. ET, though this can vary depending on the length of the undercard fights.
The supporting card features a host of compelling matchups. In another light-heavyweight contest, Bradley Rea (22-2) faces Ezra Taylor (13-1) for the WBA Intercontinental title. The welterweight division will see undefeated Jack Rafferty (27-0-1) take on Hovhannes Martirosyan (20-1) for the vacant IBO title. Additionally, the BBBOC British Featherweight belt is on the line between Zak Miller (17-1) and Gully Powar (13-1-1).
Other fights on the packed card include Billy Deniz vs. Joe O’Sullivan, John Joe Carrigan vs. Cheikh Diop, and Javokhir Ummataliev vs. Javier Santana. The depth of the card promises a full evening of boxing action for the fans in Manchester and those watching around the world, leading up to a main event that will crown a new world champion.
