Should Joshua Buatsi emerge victorious against Willy Hutchinson this weekend, a world title shot may not be his next step. The 31-year-old Londoner is looking to stay active in a career that has been impacted by periods of inactivity. This could potentially lead to another high-profile all-British showdown, serving as a main event rather than an undercard bout.
Buatsi vs. Hutchinson is set to take place on the Joshua-Dubois Riyadh Season event at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. However, Buatsi vs. Anthony Yarde is a matchup worthy of headlining the event. The ongoing speculation surrounding this potential fight has tested the patience of fans, but the bout could still materialize in the near future.
Speaking to Boxing News, Buatsi stated, “If after this fight the belts are not on the line, I will seek out activity. The Yarde fight is still of interest to both myself and fans. It’s a fight that I would like to pursue if a title shot is not immediately available.”
“It’s a fight that was almost finalized back in June, but certain factors on the other side did not come to fruition.”
On October 12, the light-heavyweight division is set to crown an undisputed champion when Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol face off in Riyadh. In the meantime, Buatsi and Hutchinson will be competing for the WBO Interim belt on Saturday.