Zach Parker expressed outrage at the judges for denying him a victory against Joshua Buatsi, lamenting that their decision jeopardized his children’s future. Parker, a light-heavyweight, showcased dominance over Buatsi, an Olympic bronze medalist, during their bout in Manchester over the weekend.
Throughout the fight, Parker effectively implemented his tactics, frustrating Buatsi, who struggled to counter his strategies. Despite Buatsi’s slight improvement in the middle rounds, Parker maintained control and emerged as the clear victor. Surprisingly, the judges’ scorecards varied, with one judge calling it a draw and the other two favoring Buatsi by two points each.
In a post-fight interview, Parker, who is expecting another child, expressed his disappointment, claiming he decisively won the match. He criticized the judges’ decision, stating that he should have been the champion considering his performance and Buatsi’s inability to land significant punches.
Buatsi, recovering from a previous loss to Callum Smith, acknowledged that it was not his best performance but emphasized the importance of securing a win. Despite the crowd’s displeasure, he criticized Parker’s defensive tactics, highlighting excessive holding and going to the floor repeatedly.
Looking ahead, Buatsi sets his sights on facing the winner of Anthony Yarde’s upcoming world title fight with David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, controversy arose earlier in the evening when Liam Cameron secured a victory over Troy Jones, despite Jones dominating significant portions of the fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn disclosed potential return dates for Anthony Joshua, suggesting he might fight on the undercard in either California on December 13 or in Riyadh on December 27. There is also speculation about a potential matchup between Joshua and Jake Paul before Christmas, as Paul seeks a new opponent to replace Gervonta Davis, who is facing allegations of kidnapping from his ex-girlfriend.