Zach Parker expressed deep frustration after a controversial decision cost him the victory against Joshua Buatsi, accusing the judges of jeopardizing his children’s future. The light-heavyweight clash in Manchester saw Parker dominate Buatsi, the Olympic bronze medalist, with a strategic performance that left his opponent struggling to find his rhythm.
Despite Buatsi showing some improvement in the middle rounds, Parker was deemed the clear winner by many observers. However, to Parker’s dismay, the judges scored the fight differently, with one declaring it a draw and the other two awarding Buatsi the win by a slim margin.
Visibly upset, Parker, who is expecting another child, expressed his disappointment, stating, “I won that fight easily. I should be changing my daughter’s life – and my unborn baby’s life – and I get decisions like that.” He emphasized his dominance throughout the bout and his belief that he should have been declared the champion.
In response, Buatsi, recovering from a previous defeat, defended his victory, highlighting the importance of securing a win regardless of the circumstances. He criticized Parker’s tactics during the fight, labeling them as disruptive and unorthodox.
Looking ahead, Buatsi aims to face the winner of Anthony Yarde’s upcoming world title bout with David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, controversy marred another fight on the same night when Liam Cameron was declared the winner over Troy Jones, despite Jones appearing to control significant portions of the match.
Furthermore, Eddie Hearn disclosed potential dates for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring, suggesting that Joshua may feature on the undercard in California on December 13 or in Riyadh on December 27. Hearn also hinted at a possible matchup between Joshua and Jake Paul before Christmas, as Paul seeks a new opponent following allegations against Gervonta Davis.