Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson WBO Interim Light Heavyweight Fight Ordered
Photo Credits: Joshua Buatsi – Lawrence Lustig, BOXXER; Willy Hutchinson – Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Willy Hutchinson got a career-best win at the right time.
The WBO Championship Committee has approved a request for challenger Joshua Buatsi to win the interim light heavyweight title. Ten days of talks were ordered on Sunday for the two sides to come to an agreement and avoid a hearing on the money claim.
Hutchinson (18-1, 13 knockouts) entered the picture just one day after his victory over Craig Richards on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Time passed without an answer to England's Anthony Yarde (25-3, 24 KOs), The Ring's No. 4-rated light heavyweight, will he commit to the fight against Buatsi.
“On May 29, 2024, this Committee issued an order requesting the funds for the Buatsi/Yarde Interim Light Heavyweight Championship Contest,” said WBO Intelligence Committee Luis Batista-Salas in a decision obtained by The Ring. “The Committee has defined certain conditions, specifically giving Anthony Yarde 72 hours after the order is issued to present himself in writing to the WBO as to whether he will participate in the interim competition.
“The condition above stated that failure to comply with it will result in this Committee deciding that Anthony Yarde is not interested, therefore he is not available to fight. As a result, the WBO World Championship Committee may recommend to the Ratings Committee his removal from the Light Heavyweight ratings in accordance with our rules and regulations. As the time given to Anthony Yarde has expired without formal communication, this Committee HERE decides that he is not interested and is not available to continue the fight against Joshua Buatsi as ordered.”
Buatsi (18-0, 13 KOs), No. 3 of 175, represented by BOXXER. Hutchinson is inspired by Queensberry.
The suspended promotion rights were a point of contention in the planned round of negotiations between Buatsi and Yarde. Queensberry was listed by the record's promoters, although Yarde disputed that he was a free agent.
That difference, in fact, was the direct cause of the delay in getting this fight lined up earlier this year.
There is no such concern in the latest round of negotiations that he ordered. Hutchinson proudly represented Queensberry in the company's celebrated 5-vs-5 tournament with Matchroom Boxing. His victory over Richards started the tournament and paved the way for a sweep.
It marked the fifth consecutive victory for Hutchinson, who is about to face a second title fight.
Buatsi was previously in the running to challenge for the WBA title. However, every part is attached to the holding pattern.
Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) and Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) will clash on October 12 for the undisputed championship. A conference meeting between the top two light heavyweights comes with all of the light heavyweight titles at stake. Beterbiev No. 1, WBC, IBF and WBO champion. Bivol No. 2, has held the WBA title since 2017.
Their meeting was scheduled for June 1. However, the fight was delayed by four months when Beterbiev suffered a torn meniscus during training camp. His injury was the reason the WBO offered the interim title fight. The winner to be the mandatory opponent of Beterbiev.
It was a good opportunity at that time for Buatsi and Yarde to renew the talks. The couple was previously eyed for the June 15 show when BOXXER plans to stack it up as a blockbuster event. The show has continued without the incident, which is now officially dead—for now, at least.
Buatsi is also a WBA enforcer and was willing to risk his position for work. A fight with Yarde is highly anticipated even before he defeats Dan Azeez in the February 3rd WBA title eliminator in London.
There was hope for this war when Buatsi's people agreed to the terms proposed. Hall of Fame promoter and Queensberry founder Frank Warren, Yarde's promoter, is also pleased with the progress in negotiations.
However, Yarde challenged everyone's plans after claiming to be a free agent for the promotion. It has caused a rift with Warren, who insists that the player who has won two titles is still under contract.
Yarde continues to insist otherwise, an issue raised by the WBO in replacing Hutchinson with the former title contender. An extension was requested by Ben Shalom's BOXXER on June 1 to instead negotiate directly with Yarde. Andy Ayling of Queensberry contacted the WBO the other day to successfully advocate for Hutchinson.
Buatsi emerged as the top contender, although work was a problem. He only fought once in 2022 and 2023, the latter of which saw Buatsi sign with BOXXER after parting ways with Matchroom. This decision should keep his career moving with the emergence of a serious opponent.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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