RISING STAR
Headhunted by legendary boxing boss, Scottish fighter Hutchinson is aiming to be world champion before he turns 25
HE’S the holder of the best amateur record in Scottish boxing history and was headhunted by Shelly Finkel, the legendary manager who helped shape the careers of Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, Evander Holyfield and Deontay Wilder.
Yet, for Willy Hutchinson, it’s next year that he believes will truly herald his big breakthrough.
The 21-year-old from Carstairs has certainly gone under the radar thus far in terms of his professional career but has made steady progress, with a perfect record of ten wins and seven knockouts since his debut two years ago.
That was after an impressive stint in the amateurs, where he collected honours at British, Commonwealth, European and World level. Indeed, it was at the Youth World Boxing Championships in St Petersburg back in 2016 that he really made his mark.
As an 18-year-old, from Springhill Amateur Boxing Club, he took gold in the 75kg class. He returned home a success but with little expectation of where it would lead.
Sitting in a fish and chip shop not long after the tournament had finished, Hutchinson received a call that would change his life — even if he didn’t realise it at first.
‘There was a scout at the world champs called Mirko Wolf,’ he recalls now. ‘Out of 480 boxers fighting in Russia, I was the only one to get chosen (by him). When Mirko called me, I was in a fish and chip shop with my granny, granddad, mum and my brothers and sisters. My dad was in Germany working.
‘When he called me, I was in the middle of eating. I didn’t know who the fella was or have a clue what he was saying, so I passed the phone to my granddad to talk to him and I carried on eating. ‘When he came off the phone, he said: “Do you realise who that was?”. I hadn’t a clue. “He wants to get Shelly Finkel in touch with you. Do you know who Shelly Finkel is?”. I didn’t, so then my granddad tells me he’s only one of the greatest managers of all time.
‘The following weekend, we flew to London to have a meeting with Shelly and then a few weeks later, I signed with him.’
Finkel’s first words to him stick with Hutchinson to this day.
‘He said: “I believe you’re going to be a world champ and not just a world champ, but undisputed and you’re going to be massive in boxing. You’re a very special talent”.
‘It’s obviously an honour for that type of man to have my phone number, never mind ringing me and talking to me all the time.
‘Near enough every day he rings me just to see how I’m doing and how camp is going.
‘As long as I’m good, he’s happy.’
Finkel teamed the Scot up with David Haye’s Hayemaker Promotions at the beginning of his professional career, after finishing his amateur days with a record of 65 wins and ten losses. However, after just three fights, both sides decided to part ways, something Hutchinson explains was mutual, describing Haye as ‘a very nice man’.
The 75-year-old American then got in touch with renowned trainer Dominic Ingle to ask if he would take over, with Hutchinson moving to his gym in Sheffield with the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and Kid Galahad. He stopped Borislov Zankov in his last fight live on BT Sport in September but, having fought nine of his ten professional fights at light-heavyweight, he’s now moving down a couple of weight classes for now. ‘Listen, 2020 is my year,’ he says. ‘This is when the titles are coming so anyone in the supermiddleweight division is getting it, simple as. ‘I’m going for the
British, Commonwealth, any title I can get my hands on. I’m coming for the lot. It is early but I’m ready. I’m ten and 0 with seven knockouts. I’m ready to step up and ready for titles. I’m hungry. I’m ready to rock and roll.’
There is no questioning Hutchinson’s ambition. Indeed, his desire to succeed goes all the way back to when he was 13 and armed with just a pen and paper.
‘My dad was working in Sweden and I can remember going to work with him one day and I had a pen and book which I got from the previous European champs,’ says Hutchinson.
‘I was writing in it and I wrote — how weird is this — that I’d be Scottish, British, European and World amateur champ on the first page of it.
‘In my amateur career, I became Scottish, British, European and
World champ. I was only 13 when I wrote this.
‘On the second page, I wrote in the book that I would be the WBC super-middleweight champion of the world.
‘I wrote it in bubble writing. The first page all became true — let’s pray the second page comes true for me. It’s in my grandparents’ house. I’ve still got the book there — I need to find it.’
Scottish boxing is in rude health at present, with Josh Taylor certainly leading the way. Hutchinson, though, believes he will be the next headline act.
‘Remember this day,’ he says at the end of his interview with
Sportsmail. ‘I’m telling you, I’m going to be the WBC supermiddleweight champ of the world. Before I’m 25, I will do it.
‘Once that happens, I can enjoy the rest of my career.’