Buatsi vs Hutchinson 2: Willy Hutchinson finding happiness after boxing's emotional turmoil

Boxing is often referred to as the loneliest sport - a sentiment which resonates with Willy Hutchinson.

Long before fighters step out under the bright lights of a packed arena, they spend months behind closed doors going through the monotony of a training camp.

The roar of a fight-night crowd is juxtaposed with the solace of a gym and just a handful of team members.

Hutchinson, 28, admits boxing has left him feeling down - even after victories - but is in a good place as he prepares to face Joshua Buatsi in a rematch for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title on Saturday at Manchester's AO Arena .

"When I fought Mark Jeffers, I didn't want to see anyone for a week after the fight," Hutchinson told BBC Scotland.

"I got real down, real down. But listen, things are different. It's always a thing with me of being good, you know? And I'm grateful to be happy. It's a very difficult thing for me to find.

"I'm very happy and everything's just good."

On Saturday, Scotland's Hutchinson walks to the ring for the 23rd time as a professional in what he hopes will be his crowning moment.

It has been three and a half years since Scotland had a world champion - when Josh Taylor lost the last of his four light-welterweight titles - and Hutchinson wants to deliver for his nation.

"It means everything to me," Hutchinson said.

"I was born in Scotland, lived in Lanark all of my life. I boxed out of a boxing gym in Shotts, Springhall Amateur Boxing Club. I couldn't be any happier to be the next world champion for my country."

Hutchinson was the first Scot to win gold at an amateur World Championships in 2016 and has won 20 of his 22 bouts as a professional.

"I started boxing when I was nine years old. There's no bigger thing I believe in boxing than the WBC world title. So it's everything to me, and I'll be getting it with both hands," Hutchinson added.

'Cream will always rise to top' - Hutchinson out for revenge

Hutchinson and Buatsi, 33, first met on the undercard of Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

Dubois' stunning fifth-round knockout victory to retain the IBF heavyweight title rightly dominated the headlines.

But Hutchinson and Buatsi had earlier laid the table with a remarkable back-and-forth contest.

Hutchinson climbed up from the canvas twice to make the final bell - taking rounds in between each of those knockdowns - but ultimately came away on the wrong side of a split-decision.

Their rivalry has been bubbling away nicely over the past two years, with insults traded across social media, and Saturday's rematch now offering up world honours.

"This time I'm going to put the performance on I should have done two years ago," Hutchinson said.

"So he's going to be meeting a different Willy Hutchinson this time. I'm going to be there and I'm going to be taking that world title back home with me, I can tell you that.

"It'll be good to get my revenge back on him, but more important is to become a world champion. It's kill two birds with one stone."

Hutchinson has rebuilt since that loss, stopping Jeffers and earning a decision win over Ezra Taylor.

Olympic bronze medallist Buatsi, meanwhile, fell to his first professional defeat against Callum Smith, although he bounced back against Zach Parker.

"Joshua Buatsi is not a person I would be overthinking about. He's never looked too good, has he? He took a very bad loss against Callum Smith and then that other lad he fought [Zach Parker] made him look terrible, didn't he?" Hutchinson said.

"The best Joshua Buatsi that is to come will be on 7 November and the best Willy Hutchinson will be there on 7 November and the cream will always rise to the top.

"The hard work's done. The hardest thing of fighting Joshua Buatsi was the camp I just did. I've just got to go and do my job, but I should make an easy night's work of it."