Zach Parker expressed outrage at the judges’ decision that cost him a victory over Joshua Buatsi, claiming it jeopardized his children’s futures. In a light-heavyweight bout in Manchester, Parker showcased dominance over the Olympic bronze medalist, frustrating Buatsi with his strategic tactics. Despite Buatsi’s efforts to adjust, Parker’s skills prevailed as he effectively countered Buatsi’s advances and utilized defensive tactics.
While Buatsi showed improvement in the middle rounds, Parker maintained a clear advantage throughout the 10-round fight. Surprisingly, the judges’ decision differed, with one judge scoring it a draw and the other two favoring Buatsi by a narrow margin. Parker, a father with another child on the way, was visibly emotional, feeling robbed of a well-deserved victory that could have significantly impacted his family’s future.
Buatsi, recovering from his previous loss to Callum Smith, criticized Parker’s defensive strategy, emphasizing the importance of winning regardless of the fight’s style. Buatsi now sets his sights on challenging the winner of Anthony Yarde’s upcoming world title fight with David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia.
In another controversial decision of the night, Liam Cameron secured a win over Troy Jones despite Jones’ dominant performance in significant portions of the fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn disclosed potential dates for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring, considering adding him to the undercard events in California on December 13 or Riyadh on December 27. Additionally, Hearn hinted at a possible matchup between Joshua and Jake Paul before Christmas, as Paul seeks a new opponent following allegations against Gervonta Davis.