The WBO has approved an interim light heavyweight title fight between Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson, following Anthony Yarde's failure to commit to a previously ordered bout. Queensberry Promotions acted swiftly after Hutchinson’s impressive win over Craig Richards, with Andy Ayling emailing the WBO to propose the matchup.
With the WBO's sanctioning, Queensberry and BOXXER, who represents Buatsi, now have a 10-day window to negotiate terms. Should they fail to reach an agreement, the fight will proceed to a purse bid. This development comes after the WBO’s initial ruling on May 8, which mandated Buatsi and Yarde to fight for the interim title. However, contractual issues between Yarde and Queensberry stalled progress, and Yarde missed a crucial 72-hour deadline set by the WBO to confirm his participation.
The WBO's statement clarified that Yarde's non-response indicated his lack of interest and availability for the fight with Buatsi. Despite an attempt by BOXXER’s Ben Shalom to extend Yarde's deadline, citing the expiration of his promotional contract with Queensberry, Frank Warren of Queensberry denied this claim, asserting that Yarde remains under contract.
Buatsi faces a significant decision: to wait for the outcome of the rescheduled undisputed light heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on October 12 or to fight Hutchinson in the interim. Given his inactivity, having fought only three times in the past three years, a bout with Hutchinson could provide the necessary preparation and maintain his sharpness ahead of a potential world title fight.
Hutchinson, riding a five-fight win streak since his loss to Lennox Clarke, is eager to capitalize on his recent success. A victory over Buatsi would significantly elevate his standing in the light heavyweight division, setting the stage for an exciting future in boxing.
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