Zach Parker expressed strong discontent towards the judges who he claims wrongfully favored Joshua Buatsi over him, affecting his children’s future. In a recent light-heavyweight match in Manchester, Parker showcased dominant performance against the Olympic bronze medalist Buatsi.
Parker effectively frustrated his opponent, making it challenging for Buatsi to adjust to his strategic moves. Despite Buatsi’s efforts to keep up, Parker’s tactics proved superior, with Buatsi resorting to a slower pace and struggling to find openings due to Parker’s defensive holds.
While Buatsi showed some improvement in the middle rounds, Parker maintained a clear lead throughout the 10-round bout. Surprisingly, the judges’ decision differed from Parker’s perceived victory, with one judge declaring a draw and the other two giving Buatsi a narrow two-point win.
Feeling robbed of a well-deserved win, Parker, a father and soon-to-be parent, expressed profound disappointment. He believed he convincingly outperformed Buatsi and deserved the championship title, emphasizing that his performance was superior in almost every round.
Buatsi, recovering from a previous defeat, acknowledged his less-than-ideal performance but emphasized the importance of securing a victory. He criticized Parker’s defensive tactics, labeling them as disruptive to the flow of the match.
Looking ahead, Buatsi aims to challenge the winner of the upcoming world title fight between Anthony Yarde and David Benavidez in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, controversy arose during the event when Liam Cameron was favored over Troy Jones, despite Jones dominating significant portions of the fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at potential dates for Anthony Joshua’s return to the ring, suggesting appearances on undercards in California on December 13 or Riyadh on December 27. Hearn also mentioned the possibility of a matchup between Joshua and Jake Paul before Christmas, as Paul seeks a new opponent following accusations against Gervonta Davis.