Frank Warren reveals his honest score for Joshua Buatsi vs Zach Parker: ‘I thought he won it’

Promoter Frank Warren has given his assessment of the controversial and largely lackluster fight between Joshua Buatsi and Zach Parker last Saturday.

The pair squared off in a lightweight clash at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, headlined by a Queensberry Promotions card stacked with several other local acts at 175lbs.

But while many were eagerly anticipating the return of Buatsi, 20-1 (13 KO), who has not fought since his thrilling fight with Callum Smith in February, they were ultimately forced to endure 10 rounds of minimal action.

After dropping a unanimous decision to Smith, the 32-year-old was under a fair amount of pressure to not only take care of business, but also to defeat Parker, 26-2 (18 KOs), in convincing fashion.

The possibility of that seemed to gradually diminish as their fight continued, because instead, it was Parker who suddenly seemed poised to claim a comprehensive points victory.

Using his crafty movement and unexpected counter-punching prowess, the Derbyshire man certainly found his groove quicker than Buatsi, who never seemed to be able to sustain his attacking efforts.

It was a great surprise, then, when it was announced that two judges, Marcus McDonnell and Salvador Salva, had reached a 96-94 ruling in favor of Buatsi.

Both of these cards included referee Grzegorz Molinda’s score of 95-95, which left Parker in a state of disbelief as he exited the ring.

Meanwhile, Queensberry boss Warren was one of several spectators who scored the fight for the 31-year-old.

But similarly, the veteran promoter criticized Parker’s habit of falling to the ground whenever Buatsi got into the pocket, while referee Michael Alexander, on the other hand, seemed to have few problems with the rule violation.

In an interview with BoxNation, Warren said:

“I thought Zach won it. I thought he won it by a few rounds.

His tactics were basically hit and run – which I get and understand – but it wasn’t very exciting.

I don’t think so Josh [Buatsi] They got along well, and their styles didn’t mix. The times is [Parker] He kept falling to his knees – he did that a few times in the fight – I don’t think the judges didn’t like it.

Maybe that was one of the reasons they gave it the other way. “It shouldn’t be that way, but that’s what happened.”

Parker was also at risk of deducting a point for over-clinching, but again, referee Alexander did little to mediate the issue.