Buatsi's mum unhappy over neck grab as rivals meet for WBC title

Chaos erupted in the stands at the AO Arena in Manchester as rowdy spectators threw punches at each other during the undercard of the Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson rematch, according to the Mirror ^[2]. Security personnel were forced to intervene early in the evening, leaving the area strewn with chairs and spilled drinks before order was restored.

The violence on the sidelines contrasted sharply with the tense build-up to the main event, where Buatsi revealed his mother was not happy about a previous pre-fight face-off. The Independent reported ^[3] that Buatsi had grabbed Hutchinson by the neck during the first bout in 2024, a moment that went viral. "My mum rang me... she wasn’t happy about that," Buatsi said, insisting he has a "cold" professional feeling towards his rival but no personal animosity.

Buatsi, 33, and Hutchinson, 28, renew their rivalry for the vacant WBC world light-heavyweight title on Saturday. Their first meeting took place in September 2024, with Buatsi winning by split decision after twice knocking down Hutchinson, the BBC noted ^[1]. Since then, Hutchinson has gone 2-0, including a win over Ezra Taylor, while Buatsi has gone 1-1, suffering a loss to Callum Smith.

Predictions from across the boxing world are divided. Some figures believe Hutchinson, now in his physical and mental prime, has matured enough to take the gold, according to the BBC ^[1]. Others point to Buatsi’s experience and the psychological impact of his loss to Smith, suggesting the Londoner might still have the edge. "Willy has improved massively since the first fight, whereas I'm not sure I could say the same for Joshua," one expert told the BBC.

The undercard itself featured its own drama. In the featherweight bout, Zak Miller suffered a severe facial injury against Gully Powar. DAZN presenter Carl Frampton described the swelling as the "worst I've ever seen," the Mirror reported ^[2]. Despite the injury, which came from an accidental clash, the fight went to the scorecards, with Powar winning the British title by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, Jack Rafferty secured a unanimous decision victory over Hovhannes Martirosyan, unaffected by the brawl in the crowd. Rafferty credited the fans for his performance, stating, "These fans got me through tonight." As the main event looms, both fighters aim to settle the score, with Hutchinson seeking his first world title and Buatsi hoping to silence critics who question his longevity after the Smith defeat.