British rivals clash before Yarde

Joshua Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) and Zach Parker (26-1, 18 KOs) battle it out in a 10-round fight for the WBO International Light Heavyweight title this Saturday, November 1. on DAZN at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, England. The event begins at 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT.

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

2016 Olympic bronze medalist Buatsi (32) is looking to bounce back from a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Callum Smith earlier this year on February 22, 2025, in Riyadh. Buatsi got into a war of attrition against Callum and was exhausted late in the fight.

It was the second grueling game in a row for Buatsi. In his previous fight, he was forced to fight hard to defeat Willy Hutchinson via a 12-round split decision on September 21, 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London. Buatsi was injured several times by the highly motivated younger fighter, Hutchinson, in that fight. What was supposed to be a clear victory going in was a life and death battle for Joshua

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren says the winner of the Buatsi vs. Parker could challenge for the title against the winner of the November 22 fight in Riyadh between WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde.

Complete map

• Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker – 10-round main event
• Brad Rea vs. Lyndon Arthur
• Liam Cameron vs Troy Jones
• Khaleel Majid vs David Ryan
• Billy Deniz vs Evorites Ezra Areneka
• Stephen Clarke vs. Jose Aguirre
• Luke Prior vs. Eduardo Vera Sanchez
• John Tom Varey vs. Brandon Gallardo Vargas
• Leighton Birchall vs Wilbert Pantin
• Bradley Casey vs Antonio Borovina

“There are brilliant fights to be made, and there’s a big show in Riyadh on November 22, and that main event between Benavidez and Anthony Yarde. Those two guys are in one of the best fights out there, and everyone sitting at this table is watching, all eyes are on it,” promoter Frank Warren said. DAZN Boxing on the winner of this Saturday’s showdown between Buatsi and Parker who each wants to face in the November 22nd matchup between David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde.

Benavidez is hoping for a bigger fight next than facing the Buatsi-Parker winner. ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez wants to face IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed championship. If not him, he would like to face Artur Beterbiev.

Buatsi lost much of the hype behind his career after the way he performed against Hutchinson and Smith. Those two fights showed that Buatsi is too easily hit, and his punch resistance is not as good as it should be for him to compete at the highest levels. If he doesn’t make dramatic improvements in that area against Parker on Saturday, it won’t look good against the Benavidez-Yarde winner when he meets them next.

“They’re looking at it because they’re looking for positions to challenge the winner of that fight. That’s what makes it so exciting,” Warren said.

“We have Joshua Buatsi, who just signed with Queensberry, fighting Zach Parker, who has been with Queensberry for a long time now.”

Parker, 31, has won his last four fights since losing to John Ryder via fourth-round injury stoppage on Nov. 26, 2022. Zach suffered a broken right hand in that fight, forcing the bout to be stopped.