Clinch chaos and scorecard outrage: Will Joshua Buatsi be forced to run Zach Parker bout back? trucc
They say a picture can paint a thousand words. If that is the case, then for the minutes that elapsed between the final bell and the scorecards, Joshua Buatsi looked down and out.
The Rio 2016 star, a bronze-medal winner almost a decade ago, has arguably never quite turned the pedigree of his Olympic Games campaign into anticipated professional glory.
At the end of ten rounds beneath the bright lights at Manchester's Co-op Live, it seemed that his latest - and perhaps final - chance had slipped through his fingers once again too.
Zach Parker, the former British super-middleweight champion, had outlanded him across a slippery contest, mixed jabs and clinches to seemingly check any momentum he had.
As the judges' decision was read out, the Derbyshire fighter already had his free hand raised in the air. His foe, in comparison, kept his eyes low, brow forlorn as he looked away.
They say a picture can paint a thousand words. But after the shock of a majority decision sent ripples of disbelief throughout the venue, Buatsi suddenly became a man reborn.
'Obvious potential maintains high stock'
A two-time Lonsdale Belt winner, the light-heavyweight has never quite reached the top of the tree when it comes to the division's best and brightest, despite his obvious potential.
Last September, Buatsi finally appeared to make good on his amateur promise when he took a split decision over Willy Hutchinson for the WBO interim strap at Wembley Stadium.
But in February, a unanimous loss to Callum Smith seemed to empty his tank, dropping him down the pecking order as Dmitry Bivol dethroned Artur Beterbiev in the main event.
Despite a first reverse, Buatsi's stock remained high enough to keep his place in the conversation, and few eyebrows were raised when he was shopped for a title opportunity.
Though WBC champion David Benavidez was ultimately paired with Anthony Yarde, the star's bout with Parker was effectively touted as a winner-takes-all shot at the former.
Speaking in the ring afterwards, Buatsi doubled down on his desire to face the winner - but questions will continue to rumble on beforehand over his worthiness after this result.
'Short of ideas as title shot grows murky'
Throughout the fight, Parker appeared to comprehensively have his opponent's number, leading off with a lively first round and using the outside of the ring to maximum effect.
Buatsi seemed to struggle for rhythm, and found himself caught flat too often, particularly as his younger rival outworked him to the body and the head with shrewd accuracy.
The chaos of Parker's clinches however not only frustrated his opponent, but also the judges, who ultimately seemed to reward an improved workrate from the former late on.
But neither Benavidez or Yarde will look at his performance and see the threat that has so often been his calling card. Though off the front foot, Buatsi seemed short of ideas.
Combined with Parker's distraught outrage in the aftermath, the likelihood of a title bout with the winner sometime in 2026 suddenly appears to have grown murkier as a result.
Buatsi will push for what he feels is his just reward, of course. But amid a division where grudges seldom go under the radar, he may yet find himself forced to run it back again.
‘Well if they’re sleeping with us, they must like us…’: MAFS UK’s Divarni throws a savage sex swipe at ex Julia-Ruth — as he teams up with BBC star for a brutal post-show dig that’s left fans howling… and his former bride fuming… - suong
MAFS UK star Divarni Groce Balogun teamed up with a BBC star to take a savage sex swipe at ex Julia-Ruth Smith.
The former couple, who had appeared on the E4 hit series, had a rocky
The pair both chose to leave the show, after his co-stars including Bailey Smith, along with viewers, urged the groom to leave following multiple incidents of disrespect – which included keeping their intimacy a secret from the show.
Now, the musician and reality star, 29, has taken to TikTok to direct a savage swipe at Julia-Ruth, joined by Stranded on Honeymoon Island star Mae Hunter.
Mae, 30, had a similar experience on the BBC
The TikTok, which was posted on Mae’s account, featured jokey text overlaid that read: “Well if they’re sleeping with us they must like us?
“Their partners did, in fact, not like them”.
The video, which was posted on Sunday, has received over 8,000 likes, as viewers of both shows sounded off in the comments section.
One wrote: “This is my favourite thing I’ve seen all year [laughing emojis]”.
While another added: “Oh what an amazing cross collaboration. Totally here for it [love emoji].”
It comes as Divarni was seen cosying up to fellow E4 star – Made In
The pair were all smiles as they posed on the red carpet for snaps.
“They looked like were really enjoying their time together on the red carpet”, a source told the Daily Mail.
“She’s got everything Julia-Ruth hasn’t – she’s classy and respectful.”
Divarni told the newspaper that the pair had only met that same night, shooting down rumours of a romance.
He dramatically left MAFS UK following multiple incidents of disrespect from show wife Julia-Ruth, who was said to be bad mouthing him behind the scenes.
During a group spa trip, the groom was left angered after co-stars dubbed his marriage the least likely to survive long-term.
The group was discussing which couples had been intimate and who hadn’t.
They came to the consensus that Divarni and Julia-Ruth’s marriage was not likely to last long term due to their lack of intimacy, despite the fact the two have actually been intimate.
Going around the group, bride Leigh pointed to Divarni – who was married to Julia-Ruth – and said that he isn’t really having sex at the moment.
Leigh had previously pointed to other grooms, brides and couples and urged how they were all having “great sex”.
Divarni looked awkward, started to touch his face and then looked down at the ground.
He confronted Julia-Ruth and said that he looked silly when quizzed about his sex life.
Not happy with his wife lying to their co-stars, a visibly upset Divarni revealed he was really p***ed off and said: “The group think my marriage is a joke.”
The setback proved too difficult to navigate, particularly with Julia-Ruth’s repeated admissions that she fancied fellow groom Steven Springett.
They eventually went their separate ways before the rest of the group embarked on Wife Swap Week.
