Hutchinson beats Buatsi to win WBC light-heavyweight title

Fight week was dominated by predictions that Buatsi, five years Hutchinson's senior, is over the hill.

And the Londoner did nothing to prove otherwise as Hutchinson often toyed with his opponent in the centre of the ring.

The first fight in 2024 had Buatsi walking to the ring as a comfortable favourite, and he backed that up with crushing body shots to send Hutchinson tumbling twice.

But this time around, Hutchinson was a different fighter. In his own words, he had "matured" after picking up two wins since last facing Buatsi.

Hutchinson clearly had the crowd on his side as he made the walk to cheers, while Buatsi was met by a chorus of boos as he paraded around the ring before the bell.

For Buatsi, the strategy was very much the same as the first encounter - whip shots into the body - but Hutchinson now had answers.

The AO Arena is famous for its boxing nights with the city's favourite boxing son, Ricky Hatton, becoming world champion here for the first time in June 2005 in a thriller against Kostya Tszyu.

This did not reach those heights, as the upper tier was closed off because of a lack of ticket sales - and fans of Manchester's Jack Rafferty departed after he won the co-main event.

This did not deter Hutchinson from advancing in the latter rounds and landing rapid triple jabs, while also switching stances.

As Manchester royalty Bez, of the Happy Mondays, watched on from ringside, Hutchinson's corner told him "three rounds and you're a world champion" after the ninth.

And they were right. Despite Buatsi's advances late on, Hutchinson held out to become world champion for the first time.