Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Following his first professional loss, Joshua Buatsi will now look to return to his winning ways and get back into the hunt for a light heavyweight world title.

He can accomplish both tonight with a win over Zach Parker at Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom, and live on DAZN.

Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) had an electric fight with Callum Smith back in February before the latter was able to use his ring savvy to score a unanimous decision, marking the first loss of Buatsi’s career. The defeat had him relinquishing the WBO interim light heavyweight title but he can build toward a world title shot with a win over Parker tonight.

Parker (26-1, 18 KOs) enters the bout on a four-fight win streak, having defeated Mickael Diallo by unanimous decision during his last time out in February.

Will Buatsi make it business as usual in defeating Parker in convincing fashion? Or will Parker seize the moment and deliver a riveting upset?

With the stakes high for this showdown, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both light heavyweights.

Joshua Buatsi’s Keys to Victory

Unload body shots early and often

Throughout his career, Joshua Buatsi has shown the ability to really sit on his body shots, leveraging them toward maximum impact.

Although he fell short on points in the loss to Callum Smith, Buatsi nearly wilted the veteran with crunching blows to the body that he should look to pummel Zach Parker with as well.

Parker changes levels well but Buatsi making deposits to the body early and often could hinder that movement.

Disguise the left hook

As Buatsi is investing to the body, he should be able to force Parker to lower his arms and protect his midsection.

As Parker is doing so, Buatsi could turn those body blows into a left hook across the jaw, sitting on the shot toward max impact as well.

Buatsi’s left hook is already a weapon. Unloading it in cramped quarters against Parker could be a fight-altering shot.

Pressure inside

Go back to Parker’s stoppage loss to John Ryder in November 2022 and you will see the British fighter moving swiftly around the ring until Ryder pressured inside.

When Ryder fought forward and forced phone booth action, he had success against Parker.

Buatsi should look to pressure forward and smother Parker with output as well.

Doing so might give Buatsi his best opportunity of limiting Parker’s movement and potshots or end the fight, altogether, to put the light heavyweight division on notice that he is back.

Zach Parker’s Keys to Victory

Change levels often

Whether in attempt of depositing shots to the body or slashing upstairs, Zach Parker changes levels effectively.

This movement helps him score points and against a potent puncher like Joshua Buatsi, it could help him to stay out of harm’s way as well.

Potshot with the gazelle hook

In changing levels, one pointed option for Parker is to pounce with the gazelle hook — a weapon he regularly has in his arsenal.

Finding a repeated home with this shot could frustrate or hurt Buatsi enough to tilt the scorecards in Parker’s favor.

Stick and move

Parker cannot afford to get caught on the ropes or in the corner by a pressuring Buatsi the way he did against John Ryder.

When Parker changes levels and lands a body shot or wraps a hook across the jaw, he must move, reset and try to score points utilizing open ring real estate.

Parking executing this effectively gives him the best chance to have his hand raised in an upset.

Watch Buatsi vs. Parker live on DAZN

Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker is live on DAZN tonight, November 1. Watch the fight and whole card with a DAZN subscription.

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