Zach Parker expressed deep disappointment over what he perceived as an unjust decision by the judges following his bout with Joshua Buatsi. The light-heavyweight clash took place in Manchester over the weekend, with Parker showcasing a dominant performance against the Olympic bronze medalist.
Buatsi struggled to counter Parker’s strategic approach, leading to frustration on his end as Parker effectively countered and disrupted Buatsi’s rhythm by frequently resorting to clinching tactics.
Despite Buatsi’s improvement in the middle rounds, Parker was widely viewed as the clear victor by many ringside observers. However, the judges’ scorecards painted a different picture, with one judge calling it a draw and the other two giving Buatsi the win by a narrow margin.
Expressing his dismay, Parker, who is a father with another child on the way, felt the decision was a setback to his family’s future. He believed he had convincingly outperformed Buatsi throughout the fight and deserved the victory based on his boxing prowess.
Buatsi, on the other hand, managed to bounce back from his previous defeat by Callum Smith earlier this year. Despite facing criticism for his performance against Parker, Buatsi emphasized the importance of securing the win as a champion.
Looking ahead, Buatsi aims to challenge the winner of Anthony Yarde’s upcoming world title fight with David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia, setting his sights on further achievements in his career.
In another controversial decision that evening, Liam Cameron secured a victory over Troy Jones, despite Jones displaying dominance in significant portions of the fight. This outcome added to the night’s contentious judging decisions.
Promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at potential comeback dates for Anthony Joshua, considering featuring him on an undercard event. Joshua, who last fought against Daniel Dubois over a year ago, might return to the ring in California on December 13 or in Riyadh on December 27, as per Hearn’s plans. Additionally, there is speculation about a potential matchup between Joshua and social media personality Jake Paul before Christmas, with Jake Paul seeking a new opponent following allegations against Gervonta Davis.