Managing affairs at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, Joshua Buatsi emerged the winner of over ten rounds against Zach Parker as he was on the right side of a controversial majority decision in their lightweight heavyweight clash.

Buatsi and Parker went back and forth live on DAZN.

When last seen in February, Buatsi (20-1, KO13) lost his WBO interim title and undefeated record when Callum Smith won clearly on the cards, while Parker (26-2, KO18) has won four on spin since a four-over retirement loss to John Ryder in November 2022, with his last points victory over Mickael Diallo in February.

Parker overshadowed the first round with an eye-catching combination with both men throwing punches but both feeling each other out and the other seeing a decent left hand strike for Buatsi.

After a fairly even third period, Parker took advantage of Buatsi keeping his hands off the ball for too long, and his right hand found the back of the net for Parker in the fourth period.

Buatsi fought challenging, looked back in the second half to come to life and finally came to life in the seventh half, seemingly troubling Parker with a body shot, but Parker asserted again in the eighth half and it looked like Buatsi needed the knockout.

Parker’s moves worried Buatsi until the final bell, but ultimately had no effect when the scorecards were read.

One card 95-95 was replaced by two cards 96-94 for Buatsi, who can count himself lucky to get the nod.

Brad Rea vs. Lyndon Arthur

The undercard showed Lyndon Arthur (25-3, KO16) crowning a recent European lightweight heavyweight champion when he came off the deck and won a majority decision over Brad Rea (21-2, KO10).

Arthur was dropped with a left hook in the second round, but the scores of 115-113 and 115-112 in his favor at the end of the fight were enough for his hand to go up and the third judge ruled it a draw 114-114.

Liam Cameron vs Troy Jones fight

Liam Cameron (24-7-1, KO10) began his recovery with a stoppage defeat to Ben Whittaker last time out, while the Sheffield lightweight heavyweight won a ten-round decision over Troy Jones (13-2, KO6).

In the competition, Cameron won by two scores of 96-94 and the third by a score of 97-93.

Undercard remaining

Billy Deniz (14-0, KO5) won 79-74 over Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka (14-2, KO11) in an eight-round lightweight heavyweight fight.

Jermaine Dhilwayo (8-0, KO3) continued his education, and the super featherweight won all four rounds against Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-30-1, KO5).

Bradley Casey (2-0, KO1) stopped Antonio Borovina (2-5, KO0) in a cruiserweight round, and Leon Hughes (3-0, KO2) won all four lightweight heavyweight rounds against Pavol Garaj (9-49-4, KO4)

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Super featherweight prospect Leighton Burchall (3-0, KO2) defeated Wilbert Panttin (7-5, KO4) 39-36.

John Tom Varney (1-0, KO0) made his debut, defeating Brandon Gallardo Vargas (3-10-1, KO1) on his way to a super flyweight points victory, and welterweight debutant Luke Prior (1-0, KO0) also won on points against Eduardo Vera Sanchez (2-13-2, KO0).