Before tonight, Hutchinson (21-2, 14 KOs) had achieved everything he set out to, collecting national, European and amateur World Championships, and on the biggest night of his life, the 28-year-old from Carstairs brought the final leg of his dream to life.

He perfectly mixed his natural boxing ability and flair with a mature, poised approach to outbox Buatsi (20-2, 13 KOs) over 12 rounds in their rematch and win the vacant WBC world title at Manchester’s AO Arena. The scores read 117-112, 115-113, 115-113.

The two first boxed on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua in September 2024.

That night, Buatsi dropped Hutchinson twice and won a too-close split decision. Both had boxed twice since that night at Wembley Stadium.

Buatsi lost the WBO interim title after a brutal 12-round war with Callum Smith and then emerged from a nip-and-tuck fight with Zach Parker with a controversial majority decision. Hutchinson has had a far more straightforward time. He dismantled Mark Jeffers and then outclassed Ezra Taylor over 10 rounds.

Before the fight, many wondered whether the rematch had arrived at exactly the right time for Hutchinson.

They were right.

The two immediately fell into their roles. The business-like Buatsi pressed forward and Hutchinson moved around the ring, slipping and sliding away from punches.

Brimming with confidence, Hutchinson was able to catch Buatsi regularly with looping counters, and although he never appeared hurt, Buatsi seemed to have a little trouble with his balance and appeared stiff-legged during the early stages.

Fully in his groove, Hutchinson began to showboat in the third, making a slow Buatsi miss before making him pay with a beautiful right hand.

Attacking but struggling to build any momentum, Buatsi fell short with body shots and reached with his jab as Hutchinson’s movement forced him to constantly reset.

Hutchinson was in control as the fight reached the midway point. Buatsi tried to chop away with body punches but the Scotsman dropped his hands, swayed away from Buatsi’s uncharacteristically crude efforts and made him pay with crisp counters.

Buatsi was caught with an accurate combination in the seventh as things began to slip quicker away from him. He spent the eighth round torn between whether to match Hutchinson’s feints or whether to continue pressing forward.

On the most important night of his career, Hutchinson was producing the best performance of his career. He beckoned Buatsi out of his corner to start the ninth and easily navigated his way through the round as Buatsi tried in vain to close the distance and raise the tempo.

Those tactics finally began to pay-off in the 11th. Buatsi committed to an all-out body assault and Hutchinson finally began to wilt.

With the title within reach, Hutchinson regathered himself and stayed away from a hard-charging Buatsi, boxing his way to the final bell.