Joshua Buatsi claims he made the right call walking away from Dmitry Bivol. Picking up a vacant strap against Willy Hutchinson will not convince anyone he belongs with the division elite. Taking the long road to a world championship by beating an opponent you already handled proves very little.
Buatsi meets Hutchinson for the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt at Manchester AO Arena on November 7. David Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight, opening up the position. That handed Buatsi a lifeline after Callum Smith battered him. That defeat derailed his standing as a serious threat at 175 pounds.
The brutal three-fight stretch since 2024 has taken plenty out of Buatsi, and walking straight into a rematch with a spiteful puncher like Hutchinson right now is playing with fire.
At 33, Buatsi is not the fresh prospect who could rely on physical superiority to bail him out. The wear and tear is showing.
Buatsi told BoxingScene that the financial terms to face Bivol were unacceptable. He insisted he has zero regrets about passing up the Russian champion.
Boxers can argue over purse splits all day. The reality is that picking up a belt against Hutchinson will never replace the test Bivol presented. It will not recover the years Buatsi wasted playing it safe.
The British bronze medalist is running out of road. Securing a belt gives him leverage at the bargaining table, yet beating Hutchinson does not turn him into an elite light heavyweight.
Hutchinson knows Buatsi looks vulnerable. Buatsi dropped him twice in their first clash, but Smith exposed him soon after. Buatsi also looked ordinary squeaking past Zach Parker in a controversial verdict many observers scored the other way.
Hutchinson has a clear path to victory. He must keep the pressure on. He must stay active every minute of every round. He must stay off the floor.
Buatsi can defend his business decisions. Inside the ring this weekend, he needs a dominant display if he expects fans to take his championship status seriously.
