The WBC has stepped in to order a rematch between Sam Eggington and Ben Cutler after controversy clouded their first meeting. But was it the right decision — and who really stands to gain from it?
Let’s be honest — not every rematch ordered by a sanctioning body feels necessary. Some are pure politics, some are box-ticking exercises, and a few just feel like filler. But this one? I’m not mad at it. Actually, I’m glad it’s been called. The Eggington Cutler rematch has officially been ordered by the WBC after a messy, awkward, and frankly unsatisfying end to their first fight — and no one wants a fight remembered for how badly it ended.
A fight overshadowed by confusion
If you caught the original Eggington vs Cutler bout — or even just the highlights — you’ll know what I mean. Eggington was awarded a TKO victory in the later rounds, but it didn’t feel clean. Cutler never hit the canvas. There was no flurry of unanswered punches. No towel from the corner. What we got instead was this strange, stuttering finish — a brief pause, Cutler standing but looking confused, and the referee waving it off.
No big moment. No dramatic final exchange. Just… confusion. The kind of ending that makes fans double-check the replay because it didn’t quite make sense the first time.
Now, I’m not saying Cutler was going to come back and win — far from it. But he wasn’t out on his feet, either. And when a stoppage lands in that murky grey area — not dramatic enough to be obvious, not sustained enough to be unquestioned — you’re going to get backlash. That’s exactly what happened. Some fans called it a disgrace. Others thought the ref made the right call. But the lack of clarity stuck.
And if there’s one thing boxing hates more than bad decisions, it’s uncertainty.
Eggington had it under control — but rematches aren’t always about control
Let’s be clear: I had Eggington winning that fight comfortably. He looked sharper, stronger, and far more experienced. From the opening bell, he dictated the tempo, closed the distance when he wanted, and landed the heavier shots. He looked every bit the seasoned pro against a younger, greener opponent.
So was it a robbery? No. Far from it. But that’s not really the point here.
The point is that a world title eliminator — especially one tied to the WBC — shouldn’t be ending in a cloud of doubt. And while Eggington might feel the rematch is a backward step, the truth is it gives him a shot at absolute closure. Dominate again, and he shuts the door completely. No questions left to answer.
And for Cutler? This is a lifeline he probably didn’t expect.
Who really benefits from the rematch?
Let’s be honest — both men have something to gain. But the scales tip slightly depending on how you see the situation.
For Ben Cutler, this is redemption. A chance to prove he wasn’t just making up the numbers, that he deserved to be in there, and that the first fight ended too soon. Whether he believes he could’ve won that night or not, he now gets a shot to reset the narrative — and that’s massive for a young fighter trying to carve out a name.
For Sam Eggington, this is more of a chore than a blessing. He did the job once, and now he’s got to do it all over again. But it’s also an opportunity to reinforce his momentum. Eggington’s been around long enough to know how fragile forward movement can be in boxing. A clean win this time — one with no controversy, no hesitations, no referee second-guessing — cements his place in the WBC pecking order and pushes him closer to a world title shot.
From a fan perspective, though? We’re the winners here. Because the rematch will carry a bit of extra heat. Cutler’s coming in with a chip on his shoulder. Eggington’s coming in wanting to make a point. That’s a recipe for a proper dust-up.
A familiar move from the WBC?
This isn’t new territory for the WBC. They’ve been known to intervene after controversial endings before — sometimes to correct a wrong, other times to save face. Just look at their decisions following the likes of Wilder vs Fury I or more recently, when they stepped in to clean up scoring issues in close fights.
It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it shows they’re listening. On the other, it raises questions about consistency. Still, in this case, you can understand the decision. Fans weren’t satisfied. One corner wasn’t satisfied. The footage wasn’t conclusive. So rather than let the result fester, they hit reset.
And if the rematch ends decisively, it’s job done.
Looking ahead: when and where?
At the time of writing, no official date’s been confirmed for EggingtoCooln vs Cutler II, but the expectation is that it’ll land on a solid UK undercard — likely mid-to-late 2025. You’d imagine Eggington enters as the clear favourite again, but Cutler will have had more time to prepare, more time to reflect, and more time to study the man in front of him.
If you’re Team Eggington, you don’t want to let this drag into a close decision. If you’re Team Cutler, you’ve got nothing to lose — which makes you dangerous.
So what do you reckon — did the WBC make the right call here? Was the first fight controversial enough to justify the do-over? And who do you think takes it second time around?
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