Willy Hutchinson is favourite to beat Joshua Buatsi in their WBC light-heavyweight title rematch in Manchester, with the fight expected to go the distance.
Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson meet again tomorrow night, this time for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title. Two years ago Buatsi won a split decision on the undercard of Daniel Dubois against Anthony Joshua at Wembley, dropping Hutchinson in the sixth and ninth rounds. The scorecards were 117-108 and 115-110 to Buatsi, with one judge scoring it 113-112 the other way after Hutchinson was deducted a point in the seventh for use of the head.
The rematch is at the AO Arena in Manchester, and the betting has flipped. Hutchinson is now favourite, after a busier two years than the man who beat him.
Buatsi vs Hutchinson Odds
Odds are subject to fluctuation and correct as of 15:35 GMT, Friday 6 November. See the full Buatsi vs Hutchinson winner market on Oddschecker.
Who Is the Favourite in Buatsi vs Hutchinson?
Hutchinson is 5/6 at best, about a 55% chance, and 8/11 with several other firms. Buatsi is 5/4, about 44%, and as short as evens with William Hill. That is close enough that neither stands out as a clear favourite.
The market has moved Hutchinson’s way today. He has been shortened to 8/11 with AK Bets and BetVictor, while Buatsi has drifted to 11/10 and 6/5 in places.
The form since Wembley explains the shift. Buatsi, now 20-1 (13 KOs), lost a unanimous decision to Callum Smith in Riyadh in February 2025 and then squeezed past Zach Parker on a majority decision last November. Hutchinson, 20-2 (14 KOs), has won both of his fights since, stopping Mark Jeffers in the seventh at Braehead and outpointing Ezra Taylor over 10 rounds in March. He is also five years younger, at 28 to Buatsi’s 33.
Buatsi vs Hutchinson Method of Victory Odds
Most firms have Hutchinson by decision around 6/4 to 8/5. Star Sports are the exception, at 4/1 for a points win and 13/8 for a stoppage, which is a much heavier knockout lean than the rest of the market. See the full Buatsi vs Hutchinson method of victory market on Oddschecker.
The first fight went the full 12, and bookmakers expect the same again. Yes for the distance is 1/2 with William Hill, Ladbrokes, BoyleSports and Coral, and no is 11/5.
Buatsi vs Hutchinson UK Time
The fight is on Saturday 7 November at the AO Arena in Manchester. DAZN coverage starts at 7pm UK time, and the main-event ring walks are expected around 10pm. Doors open at 4pm, with the prelims getting under way shortly after. BBC Sport will have live text from 9pm.
The vacant WBC belt is available because David Benavidez gave it up to stay at cruiserweight. The winner becomes a world champion for the first time.
Buatsi vs Hutchinson Undercard
The co-main is Jack Rafferty against Hovhannes Martirosyan for the vacant IBO welterweight title over 12 rounds. Rafferty is 27-0-1 with 18 knockouts; Martirosyan is 20-1 with 12.
Also on the card:
- Zak Miller vs Gully Powar, vacant British featherweight title, 12 rounds
- Bradley Rea vs Ezra Taylor, light-heavyweight, 10 rounds
- Stephen Clarke vs Harley Collison, middleweight
- John Joe Carrigan vs Cheikh Diop, super-welterweight
- Javokhir Ummataliev vs Atacayte Santana, super-middleweight
- Billy Deniz vs Joe O’Sullivan, light-heavyweight
- Tumi Phillips vs Angelo Dragone, super-lightweight
- Ryan Macmillan vs Grant Dennis, light-heavyweight
- Alex Arthur Jr vs Jose Aguirre, super-middleweight
Taylor is the same fighter Hutchinson beat in March. The main five on DAZN are the title fight, Rafferty, Miller, Rea and Clarke.
Buatsi vs Hutchinson Tips and Prediction
The fight to go the distance at 1/2 is the market that best matches what we have already seen. They boxed 12 hard rounds in 2024, and nothing in either man’s recent work suggests a short night is the most likely outcome.
Hutchinson to win is the other side of the same reading. He did not lose the first fight by much, he has been the more convincing fighter since, and at 28 he should be coming into his peak just as Buatsi, at 33, is trying to prove the Smith defeat was not the start of a decline. A repeat of the first fight, with the decision reversed, is the most plausible result: Hutchinson on points.
