Joshua Buatsi was jeered by Hutchinson's fans at the weigh-in ahead of Saturday's WBC super-middleweight title fight. Scottish boxer Willy Hutchinson and Buatsi meet in a rematch in Manchester, at the AO Arena.
The rematch comes just over two years after Buatsi won a split decision in the first bout. When both stepped onto the scales at Freight Island in Manchester, Buatsi pointed to his ears with his hands to provoke jeers from Hutchinson's fan base. "He talks as if we haven't done this before, but we have. I'm excited for the crowd – see you there," Buatsi said.
Saturday's fight was originally scheduled to be for the interim title, but it was upgraded after American boxer David Benavidez relinquished the WBC gold to move up to the cruiserweight division. Hutchinson, 28, was the first to step on the scales at the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday and was greeted with a big round of applause from his loud entourage.
Buatsi had to step on the scales twice at the official weigh-in on Friday morning because he was an ounce (28 grams) over the super-middleweight limit on his first attempt. The 33-year-old achieved the competitive weight of 12 stone 7 pounds (79 kilograms) on his second attempt after removing his clothing. Hutchinson then, when they faced each other later that evening, made a derogatory remark about Buatsi's excess weight.
Buatsi won an Olympic bronze medal in 2016. He enters the biggest fight of his career with a professional record of 20 wins and one loss. Hutchinson is the first Scottish boxer to win gold at the amateur world championships, and he has a record of 20 wins and two losses.
The press conference on Thursday was a media-only event in a relaxed setting, protecting Buatsi from jeers during the biggest fight week of his career. The weigh-in on Friday was held in front of about 100 members of the public. Tension was felt in Manchester, and the boxers came nose to nose as Hutchinson shouted "and a new one" several times.
The Scottish fighter stated that he believes he is the better boxer of the two. Hutchinson told the excited crowd on Friday that he would show them what Buatsi is "made of tomorrow – 100 per cent".
