Willy Hutchinson ‘Very Confident’ Of Beating Joshua Buatsi In Interim Title Bout
Willy Hutchinson said he’s “very confident” of beating Joshua Buatsi in their WBO interim light-heavyweight title bout in September.
Buatsi (18-0-0 13 KO) puts his belt on the line against Hutchinson (18-1-0 13 KO) on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight world title fight with Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, London on September 21.
Buatsi, who was awarded the WBO interim belt shortly after beating Dan Azeez in a title eliminator in February, was expected to fight Anthony Yarde but the negotiations ultimately stalled. The collapse in talks opened the door for Hutchinson, and the Scottish fighter is ready to seize the opportunity.
“I’m always bundling with confidence,” Hutchinson said. “I’m the wrong person not to have confidence. I’m grateful for everything. It’s a massive card, and like I said for the last one, I’m ready to get the job done with him and move on to the next one. I’m soaking it all up and enjoying myself.”
Hutchinson is coming off an impressive victory over Craig Richards having defeated his British rival on points as part of the 5-vs-5 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1. ‘Braveheart’ will also take confidence from the fact his victory over Richards was more comfortable than Buatsi’s win over his fellow Londoner.
‘Buatsi Very Similar To Richards’
“I think he [Buatsi] is very similar to Craig Richards, if you want to know the truth,” Hutchinson added. “That’s the God’s honest truth. I think he’s very similar, if not the same level, as the man I just beat, so I’m very, very confident of getting the job done against him and moving on.”
A victory for either fighter will put him in line for a shot at the winner of the upcoming undisputed bout between WBA title holder Dimitry Bivol and WBC, WBO, and IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev.
Incidentally, the undisputed bout had been scheduled to headline the same night as the 5-vs-5 event that Hutchinson fought in, only for Beterbiev to withdraw with a knee injury. A new date has yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to be at the end of this year.
That Hutchinson is one win away from his first world title shot is thanks in part to Yarde’s contractual dispute with Queensberry Promotions, who also promote the Scot.
Hutchinson Benefits From Yarde Stall
On May 29, the WBO issued a purse bid order for the fight between Yarde and Buatsi on the provision that Yarde expressed his intention of proceeding with the bout. However, the dispute between Yarde and Queensberry meant the deadline was missed.
On June 2, the day after his win over Richards, Hutchinson was put forward by Queensberry boss Frank Warren as an alternative to Yarde, which the WBO accepted.
It’s a big risk for Buatsi, who could lose his status as mandatory challenger with a defeat. However, the Londoner wants to avoid the inactivity that has disrupted his career in recent years.
“They’ve both got impeccable amateur backgrounds. They’ve both boxed since a very young age and done it at the highest level. I think it’s Willy’s time now,” said Warren. “He showed in his last fight that he can beat a world class operator, and I thought he boxed extremely well on the night.
“Joshua is a world-class fighter, there’s no doubt about it. But I genuinely feel – and it’s the reason we were really pushing for this fight – that Willy can beat him. That’s why he’s here: to go and win.”
