Boxing
Does Ezra Taylor bad blood hinder Willy Hutchinson's title dreams?
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Half a year ago, Willy Hutchinson had his eyes on the light-heavyweight summit, hopes fanned for a world title chance.
The Scotsman had recovered in assured style from his second professional loss, with a knockout against Mark Jeffers.
He had his eyes on the winner of Joshua Buatsi and Zach Parker's impending bout, a fascinating contest in Manchester.
For Hutchinson, the unbeaten Ezra Taylor was - in his eyes - perhaps the furthest thing from his mind before that night.
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Roll the months on, and it is the latter that the former will tackle this weekend at Co-op Live, hellbent on a key victory.
For Hutchinson, this is more than a diversion to tackle a divisional rival. This is business that has become personal.
Yet for all the red mist that has seemingly descended, one question remains - could it cost him a crack at a major prize?
A tough bout for both men...
The bad blood between Hutchinson and Taylor stems from a ringside scrap back in November amid the Buatsi-Parker fight.
The Scotsman claimed that his seat, of all things, was being taken by his now-rival, sparking phsyical scenes between them.
Since then, with a bout quickly arranged, the pair have taken plenty of jabs at each other in the build-up to their battle.
An original January date was scotched by illness after Moses Itauma hit pause on his headline bout with Jermaine Franklin.
The extra two months has further helped this stew in the pot, a slew of additional weeks that have helped add more spice.
Hutchinson arrives this week absolutely chomping at the bit, determined to put down a foe he does not see on his level.
But it is a gamble that he perhaps did not need to take - and one that might come back to haunt him if he loses his cool.
...but defining for one in particular
Across more than a dozen professional fights, Taylor has built a shrewd body of work, performances underpinned by guile.
Plenty have tipped him as a possible world level contender down the line. Hutchinson represents something of an acid test.
If he loses here however though, his chances arguably come again. A loss against a foe like this may not be a fatal reverse.
For Hutchinson though, with two defeats on the record already, in a crowded division at domestic level though, this is big.
Here, he must master the emotions that have on occasion got the better of him in the ring, such as when he fought Buatsi.
The overcommitment he showed on occasion then is something he has rued since. Here, he must ensure he keeps his cool.
Taylor won't let him, that's for certain. The bad blood is staining this bout - and more so than his foe, Hutchinson must resist.
He can put down his latest foe when the job is done. What he must he do first is put him down - and do so with no questions.
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Knockout sensation Moses Itauma faces his toughest test against Jermaine Franklin this Saturday night, March 28. Watch exclusively with a DAZN Ultimate subscription to also get PPVs Chisora vs. Wilder (April 4), Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), and Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23) included.
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