Buatsi And Hutchinson Are Ideal Fights for Ben Whittaker
With the uncertainty of unified 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol’s return, and WBC champion David Benavidez possibly moving to cruiserweight, top contender “The Surgeon” Ben Whittaker is about to make a move towards a title shot. However, he should face Joshua Buatsi or have a rematch with “The Hutch Train” Willy Hutchinson first.
After running over veteran Braian Suarez in the first round, Whittaker’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing’s Chairman Eddie Hearn, stated The Surgeon would debut in America next. Then they will return to the United Kingdom for a big domestic fight or a title eliminator. Well, fighting Buatsi or Hutchinson could see both scenarios become a reality.
Whittaker is rated #3 slot with the WBC. Buatsi is ranked #2, and The Hutch Train is holding down the #4 slot. This means he could face either of them, and it will likely be a title eliminator, with the winner undoubtedly challenging for the title afterwards.
WHY BUASTI OR HUTCHINSON ARE BETTER OPTIONS
It’s no secret that Team Whittaker believes they are ready to challenge for a title right now. Hearn mentioned names like Anthony Yarde or Lyndon Arthur. Its this author’s opinion that fighting either of them is a bad move.
Yarde is coming off a loss to Benavidez, and Arthur is not even ranked by any of the sanctioning bodies. Furthermore, neither of them is on anyone’s radar, and fighting them won’t be seen as a big domestic showdown. Despite suffering a loss to Callum Smith in February 2025, Buatsi bounced back with a controversial win over Zach Parker in November 2025.
A fight with Hutchinson has a built-in backstory, as the two have faced each other in amateur competitions. Whittaker won the fight by split decision. A rematch is a fight Hutchinson and fans would welcome with open arms. Adding even more spice to the story is the long-standing rivalry between Scotland and England.
If they want to be taken seriously about challenging for a world title, Buatsi or Hutchinson are the best opponents.
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