Fight week was dominated by predictions that Buatsi, Hutchinson’s senior by five years, would be over the hill.
And the Londoner did nothing to prove otherwise since Hutchinson often toyed with his opponent in the center of the ring.
In the first fight in 2024, Buatsi headed to the ring as a comfortable favorite, and he backed that up with crushing body shots to drop Hutchinson twice.
But this time around, Hutchinson was a different fighter. In his own words, he has “matured” after winning twice since the last time against Buatsi.
Hutchinson clearly had the crowd on his side as he marched to cheers, while Buatsi was greeted with a chorus of boos as he paraded around the ring before the bell.
For Buatsi, the strategy was much the same as in the first encounter – whips to the body – but Hutchinson now had answers.
The AO Arena is famous for its boxing nights where the city’s favorite boxer, Ricky Hatton, became world champion for the first time in June 2005 in a thriller against Kostya Tszyu.
It didn’t reach those heights, as the upper tier was closed due to lack of ticket sales – and Manchester’s Jack Rafferty fans left after he won the co-main event.
That didn’t deter Hutchinson from moving forward in the final rounds and landing quick triple jabs, while changing positions.
As Manchester royalty Bez of the Happy Mondays watched from ringside, Hutchinson’s corner told him “three rounds and you’re world champion” after the ninth.
And they were right. Despite Buatsi’s late advances, Hutchinson held on to become world champion for the first time.
Gn sports
