The British light-heavyweight boxing match between Joshua Buatsi and Zach Parker was a controversial affair, leaving Parker fuming after the decision was made in Buatsi's favor. The bout, which took place in Manchester, resulted in a split-decision victory for Buatsi, with one judge calling it a draw (95-95) and the other two favoring Buatsi by scores of 96-94. Parker, who had been on a winning streak with a record of 27-4, insisted that the decision should have been in his favor, stating, 'I won that fight easy. I think every single person at ringside said I won it.'
Buatsi, an Olympic bronze medalist, was returning to the winning track after suffering his first professional defeat to Callum Smith in February. Despite the loss, Buatsi maintained a positive attitude, saying, 'I must admit it wasn't my best performance, but what do champions do? They win. Regardless of how it comes, you take it.'
The fight was marred by excessive holding and clinching, with Parker being pushed down to the canvas several times. Parker argued that Buatsi should have been penalized for his tactics, stating, 'When he's pushed me down, what do you want me to do? I can't keep lifting him up. If he's pushing me down, the referee should probably say, 'stop pushing him down.'
Buatsi, however, was unimpressed by Parker's tactics, stating, '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.'
The controversial decision has sparked debates and discussions among boxing enthusiasts, with many questioning the fairness of the outcome. Some believe that Parker deserved the victory, while others argue that Buatsi's experience and skill prevailed. The debate has fueled calls for a rematch, but the lack of entertainment in the fight may influence Buatsi's new promoter, Frank Warren, to reconsider such an option.
