In a heated Joshua Buatsi vs Zach Parker showdown in Manchester, Joshua Buatsi emerged victorious via a controversial majority decision that left the fans divided. A British light-heavyweight contest ended with one judge scoring the bout 95-95, while two others awarded it 96-94 for Buatsi. That sparked instant debate over the result and whether it was fair.
The win got the Olympic bronze medallist back on track after his defeat in February against Callum Smith, but the victory was widely questioned by many at ringside who felt Zach Parker had done enough to claim victory.
Zach Parker “Fuming” After Decision: “I Won That Fight Easily”
A disgruntled Zach Parker vented his anger in his post-fight interview with DAZN, completely bewildered at the judges’ scorecards.
“Fuming. I won that fight easy. I think every single person at ringside said I won it,” Parker said.
“I won literally almost every round. If I outbox him and he can’t even touch me, I should be champion now and going on to bigger fights.”
Parker, now 27-4, lost for the first time in five bouts but remained adamant that he had been hard done by. He said:
“Everybody’s got eyes, they saw the fight. He couldn’t hit me with a clean shot. I’d probably give him one round, maybe early, but I was comfortable in there. I should be going on for bigger titles and bigger money fights. I’m trying to change my daughter’s life, and I get decisions like that.”
In fact, many boxing analysts and spectators seemed to indicate that Parker had bossed the tempo throughout much of the contest with his jab and movement.
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Joshua Buatsi Responds: “Champions Find a Way to Win”
Meanwhile, Joshua Buatsi admitted the fight wasn’t his best performance but insisted true champions prevail under pressure.
“I must admit it wasn’t my best performance,” Buatsi said. “But what do champions do? They win. Regardless of how it comes, you take it.”
The 30-year-old British fighter underlined resilience, suggesting that despite the scrappy nature of the contest, his composure and ring control gave him the victory in the eyes of the judges.
Joshua Buatsi vs Zach Parker: A Fight Marred by Holding and Scrappy Exchanges
The bout itself was far from a technical showcase, filled with excessive clinching and frequent falls to the canvas that frustrated both fighters and the referee in the Joshua Buatsi vs Zach Parker contest.
Buatsi accused Parker of using “spoiling tactics, saying:
“I don’t know what style that is. You keep holding and going on the floor… you can’t be on the floor about six times and claim you won the fight.”
Parker, however, defended his approach, saying Buatsi’s constant pushing forced him down:
“When he’s pushing me down, what do you want me to do? He’s 14 stone I can’t keep lifting him up. The referee should’ve told him to stop pushing. If that’s the way to win a fight, fine, but I outboxed him and jabbed his head off all night.”
Physically intense, it did lack the clean exchanges that the fans were hoping for, as much of the contest was dominated by clinches and tactical disruptions.
What’s Next? Calls for a Rematch After Controversial Outcome
The controversial result that saw Joshua Buatsi outpoint Zach Parker is already being talked about for a potential rematch, but considering how the first fight went, the promoter Frank Warren might have to think twice over arranging a rematch unless both fighters commit to a more entertaining bout.
Despite the criticism, Buatsi’s win means an important step back toward title contention after his earlier loss to Callum Smith. Parker will have to move on now, regrouping and pushing for a possible redemptive future bout, maybe a rematch that can put the debate to a rest once and for all.
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