Willy Hutchinson has called out who he would like to fight in the first defence of his world title.
The 28-year-old Scot had an outstanding amateur career before turning professional in 2017. After building a reputation as an aggressive, heavy-handed fighter early in his journey, he suffered a setback against Joshua Buatsi in their first fight back in 2024, when he lost a close fight via split decision.
Since then, he has rebuilt with wins over Mark Jeffers and Ezra Taylor to take his record to 20 wins from 22 fights, and this past weekend gained revenge in the rematch.
Speaking to DAZN immediately after the fight, Hutchinson called out a fellow Brit in the division as his first defence.
“Anthony Yarde, do you want some of this, baby? Let’s go, let’s go, get yourself in here. I’ve got big respect for this man. Let me tell you, he’s no walkover, but let’s go. Him next. Big respect.”
Yarde entered the ring and was asked about the fight.
“This is 100% a fight I want to take.”
Yarde has previously fought three times for world titles. First he was stopped in the 11th round against Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight title in 2019, before he lost to Artur Beterbiev in January 2023 when three of the major belts were on the line.
After a run of four wins, including victory over Lyndon Arthur, he took on David Benavidez in his last fight last November but failed to win the WBC and WBA titles from the notoriously tough ‘Mexican Monster.’
