Joshua Buatsi walked into a hostile room of Willy Hutchinson fans at the weigh-in, days before Saturday's WBC light-heavyweight title fight.
Joshua Buatsi, the British-Ghanaian light-heavyweight, got a hostile welcome at the weigh-in for his WBC world title fight against Willy Hutchinson. Jeers from Hutchinson's supporters rolled through the room as Buatsi stepped forward, with a world championship belt on the line on Saturday.
For the African diaspora, this is a big moment. Buatsi carries Ghanaian roots into one of boxing's most prestigious divisions, and a win would put a WBC title in the hands of another fighter with deep ties to the continent. Fans across Accra, Kumasi and the wider Ghanaian community in the UK will be watching closely.
The booing was a loud reminder of what Buatsi is walking into. Hutchinson's backers showed up in numbers and made themselves heard, a sign that the atmosphere on fight night should be intense and one-sided. Playing the villain is nothing new in boxing, and the best fighters know how to use it.
Buatsi's task now is to block out the noise and let his hands do the talking. The weigh-in is theatre. The real answer comes Saturday, when the bell rings and only one man leaves with the green and gold WBC belt.
