Willy Hutchinson in line for world boxing title shot after statement victory in Saudi Arabia

Willy Hutchinson is one step closer to landing a world title shot after he was ordered to face Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim light-heavyweight title.

The Scot produced the best performance of his career in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, scoring an unanimous points victory over former world title challenger Craig Richards to extend his record to 18-1. The 25-year-old boxer suffered his only professional defeat in a British and Commonwealth tilt to Lennox Clarke back in 2021, but has since bounced back with five consecutive wins.

Hutchinson has declared he is ready to throw himself into world title reckoning, and he will now get the chance to so against Englishman Buatsi, who has won all 18 of his bouts. The WBO had originally ordered Buatsi to take on Anthony Yarde - with the winner taking on Artur Beterbiev for the full world title - only for Yarde and his team to withdraw from negotiations.

Former 2016 Youth World Championships gold medallist Hutchinson's promoter Frank Warren has now had a request for the Carstairs-fighter to be considered for the interim title shot accepted, with Warren and Buatsi's promoter Ben Shalom now being given 10 days to get the fight signed before it goes to purse bids.

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