Frank Knows: Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson Preview & Prediction

Fight fans have an England v Scotland showdown to enjoy this weekend as Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson face off in a hotly anticipated rematch.

The vacant WBC world light heavyweight title is on the line; the Manchester Arena will be packed to capacity, and millions more will follow the action live on DAZN.

Buatsi beat Hutchinson on a split decision in London two years ago. Will Saturday bring repeat or revenge?

Betting apps offer pre-fight and in-play betting odds. Keep reading as former professional boxer-turned-sports-betting writer Frankie Monkhouse offers his Buatsi vs Hutchinson preview and predictions.

Joshua Buatsi Stats

Joshua Buatsi brings a professional record of 20 wins against 1 defeat. He has 13 wins inside the distance, and his one loss came to Callum Smith by points decision in February 2025 in Riyadh.

Buatsi beat Hutchinson at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua. It was a thrilling contest that went 12 rounds. The Scotsman was down in rounds six and nine, and was deducted a point in round seven.

Since beating Hutchinson and losing to Smith, Joshua has appeared only once, beating Zach Parker on a majority decision at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester late last year.

Willy Hutchinson Stats

Willy Hutchinson travels from his base in Carstairs, Scotland, with a professional boxing record of 20 wins against 2 defeats. He boasts a 70% knockout ratio, but three of his previous four bouts went the distance.

Despite those two knockdowns and losing a point in the first meeting with Buatsi, the final scorecards were close. Two judges scored it 115-110 and 117-108 for Buatsi, while the third judge scored it 113-112 for Hutchinson.

It’s been a long time coming, and Willy would’ve liked the rematch sooner, I’m sure, but he now must grab this opportunity with both hands.

Buatsi vs Hutchinson Betting Odds

The bookmakers aren’t always correct. Making a fighter the betting favourite doesn’t mean he’ll definitely win. But it’s always good to consider the latest odds when studying a bout.

What do the traders expect from Buatsi vs Hutchinson II?

Fight fans and bettors expecting Buatsi to make it 2-0 against Hutchinson will find the Englishman trading at around even money (1/1). That means if you place a $50 bet on Buatsi to win, and he gets the job done, you’ll bank a $100 return.

Fancy the upset? You can bet on Hutchinson to win and claim his revenge, moving the score to 1-1 at 8/11 with most firms. That’s tighter than I expected.

Looking for a bet at higher odds? You may wish to play the method of victory market.

Buatsi to win on points is 5/2, while the KO/TKO win appeals at 15/4.

Hutchinson to win on points is 7/4, with the KO/TKO victory chalked up at 15/4.

Prefer to sit on the fence and avoid picking sides? You can bet on this bout to follow the first meeting and test the scoring judges sitting at ringside. The fight to go the distance is 1/2, and followers don’t care which boxer wins. All you need is the contest to last the 12 rounds.

Frank’s Pick

Ready for my Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson prediction?

I expect another gripping fight, and wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go all the way to another points decision.

I was really surprised to see Hutchinson trading at 8/11, as I expected a slightly higher price.

You can bet on this fight to go the distance at 1/2 as a single, but it’ll work best in your weekend accumulators or Buatsi vs Hutchinson Bet Builders. This approach allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the rematch.

If you’d prefer to pick a winner, I’d go with the Scotsman. The rematch seems to have come at the right time for him, with Buatsi coming off a loss and an unconvincing points win over Parker last time out.

I expect Saturday’s main event to catch fire early, and with genuine needle between the pair, you’ll want to take your seats in plenty of time for the opening bell.