Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson fight Nov. 7 in Manchester for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title, which the WBC upgraded from interim; David Benavidez keeps a challenge right.
What we know
- The WBC confirmed on Oct. 9 that Buatsi vs. Hutchinson is for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title, upgraded from the interim title Queensberry first announced.
- The fight takes place Nov. 7 at AO Arena in Manchester and is broadcast on DAZN.
- The WBC linked the vacancy to David Benavidez's decision to continue at cruiserweight, where he faces Michal Cieslak.
- Benavidez retains the right to challenge for the WBC light heavyweight title; no fight against either contender is announced.
- The WBC convention runs Nov. 8-13 in Acapulco, with eliminators and mandatory positions to be reviewed; the winner's first defense is not named.
- Buatsi won the first fight at Wembley Stadium in September 2024 and took the WBO interim title.
The winner in Manchester on Nov. 7 will be a full WBC light heavyweight champion, not an interim holder. That is the change the WBC made when it confirmed the title stakes on Oct. 9, lifting a rematch Queensberry had first announced as an interim fight.
The vacancy comes from David Benavidez, who chose to continue at cruiserweight and faces Michal Cieslak in Glendale. He has not given up the path back: the WBC says he keeps the right to challenge for the light heavyweight title. No fight against either British contender has been announced, so Benavidez is a possible future opponent for the winner, not a booked one.
Buatsi, 33, of the United Kingdom, won the first meeting at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. He dropped Hutchinson in the sixth and ninth rounds and took cards of 117-108 and 115-110, with one judge at 113-112 for Hutchinson. That win brought him the WBO interim title. He later lost to Callum Smith in early 2025, then beat Zach Parker in November. He comes in at 20-1 with 13 knockouts.
Hutchinson, 28, of Scotland, is 20-2 with 14 stoppages. He rebuilt with wins over Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor, beating the previously unbeaten Taylor in Manchester in March. So he reaches the rematch with fights behind him, not as an immediate return. Queensberry's account of the rivalry stressed Buatsi's body work and a tense buildup, including a confrontation during a filmed face-to-face and a heated final staredown.
What comes next is open. The WBC holds its annual convention Nov. 8-13 in Acapulco, straight after the fight, and said eliminators and mandatory positions would be reviewed there. It has not named a first defense for the winner. Elsewhere in the division, Dmitry Bivol is set to face Callum Smith on a December card.
The vacancy comes from David Benavidez, who chose to continue at cruiserweight and faces Michal Cieslak in Glendale. He has not given up the path back: the WBC says he keeps the right to challenge for the light heavyweight title. No fight against either British contender has been announced, so Benavidez is a possible future opponent for the winner, not a booked one.
Buatsi, 33, of the United Kingdom, won the first meeting at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. He dropped Hutchinson in the sixth and ninth rounds and took cards of 117-108 and 115-110, with one judge at 113-112 for Hutchinson. That win brought him the WBO interim title. He later lost to Callum Smith in early 2025, then beat Zach Parker in November. He comes in at 20-1 with 13 knockouts.
Hutchinson, 28, of Scotland, is 20-2 with 14 stoppages. He rebuilt with wins over Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor, beating the previously unbeaten Taylor in Manchester in March. So he reaches the rematch with fights behind him, not as an immediate return. Queensberry's account of the rivalry stressed Buatsi's body work and a tense buildup, including a confrontation during a filmed face-to-face and a heated final staredown.
What comes next is open. The WBC holds its annual convention Nov. 8-13 in Acapulco, straight after the fight, and said eliminators and mandatory positions would be reviewed there. It has not named a first defense for the winner. Elsewhere in the division, Dmitry Bivol is set to face Callum Smith on a December card.
- Summary
- Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson fight Nov. 7 in Manchester for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title, which the WBC upgraded from interim; David Benavidez keeps a challenge right.
- Key points (one per line)
- The WBC upgraded Buatsi vs. Hutchinson II from an interim fight to one for the vacant light heavyweight title.
The fight is Nov. 7 at AO Arena in Manchester, live on DAZN.
Benavidez left the division for cruiserweight but retains the right to challenge for the title.
The WBC convention runs Nov. 8-13 in Acapulco, where eliminators and mandatory positions will be reviewed.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/joshua-buatsi-willy-hutchinson-vacant-wbc-title-november7/
Last edited:
Fan poll
Who wins the Buatsi vs. Hutchinson rematch for the vacant WBC title?
What they're saying
Fighters in this story
Willy Hutchinson
Joshua Buatsi
David BenavidezSources
MiddleEasySummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
Is this story accurate?
Updated
This story just changed.