Anthony Yarde has a vested interest in Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson

Anthony Yarde remains keen to do battle with Joshua Buatsi, a matchup that for many years was near the top of British fight fans' wish lists.

Perhaps the appetite for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua was at times greater, but while that heavyweight matchup seemed increasingly unlikely as the two went their separate ways, there was always a sense that light heavyweights Yarde and Buatsi were on a collision course.

It simply had to happen, or so fans presumed.

Both Yarde and Buatsi are now in their mid-30s and, as ever when the finish line approaches, opportunities to bolster their retirement funds are being sought.

That 33-year-old Buatsi is only 20-1 (13 KOs), some 10 years after being one of the stars of the 2016 Olympics, should be cause for concern. Whatever the reasons for his stunted progress – he never quite reached the expected heights while being promoted by Matchroom or Boxxer – there was a feeling that his best days had passed when he struggled to a contentious points victory over Zach Parker last November.

World titles have remained elusive - for now

Now with Queensberry, Buatsi will get his first shot at a world title on November 7 when he takes on Willy Hutchinson, a fighter he defeated two years ago to claim an interim belt.

Yarde, 27-4 (24 KOs), has fought – albeit unsuccessfully – at a higher level and finds himself at a crossroads. The 35-year-old lost a one-sided fight to David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia last November.

It was his third shot at a 175lbs title after brave losses to Artur Beterbiev (2023) and Sergey Kovalev (2019).

"I have shown time and time again I'm willing to fight anybody and as soon as it got to the point where the public, the pundits and everybody was calling for this fight, I said let's make it happen," Yarde told Sky Sports. "It just makes sense.

"I would have probably rather fought Buatsi in England, a bigger fight for a world title, than go to Saudi Arabia.

"It is a different crowd, different environment and fight [David] Benavidez or even [Artur] Beterbiev, I would have preferred the Buatsi fight over all of them.

"I am not saying because it's an easier fight or anything like that, it is because in my opinion it was a bigger fight."

For a while, at least in the UK, it certainly would have been.

Yarde rooting for Buatsi to beat Hutchinson

Buatsi will need to improve on his last outing against Parker for interest in a showdown with Yarde to be reignited.

Yarde, never Buatsi's biggest fan, wants his rival to beat Hutchinson purely for economic reasons.

Regardless, he seems to have set his sights on the winner.

"Buatsi is as boring as watching paint dry outside of the ring," Yarde said.

"Because of the public, the Buatsi fight would just make more sense. I would probably want him to win so me and him could fight for a world title.

"But in terms of entertainment outside of the ring, which I think is very important, Hutchinson makes sense as well."