The light heavyweight division is largely on pause until undisputed champion Dmitri Bivol returns from injury.
A trilogy fight between Bivol and his great rival Artur Beterbiev is on the wishlist of most boxing fans as attentions turn towards 2026.
Below the two Russian masters, several high-quality fighters at 175 pounds are jostling for position. Many hail from the UK, and two of the best clash in Manchester this Saturday night.
Joshua Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) returns to action for the first time since compatriot Callum Smith inflicted his first career defeat over 12 thrilling rounds on the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 undercard in Riyadh back in February.
Another Brit with a solitary career defeat to a countryman is in the opposite corner. Zach Parker (26-1, 18 KOs) is on a four-fight winning streak since a broken hand forced him to retire against John Ryder in 2022.
The rest of the main card at Co-op Live is dominated by intriguing light heavyweight action.
MORE: Heavyweight rankings: Top 12 boxing big men rated by The Sporting News
Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Buatsi vs. Parker card:
Bradley Rea vs. Lyndon Arthur
- Division/Weight: Light heavyweight
- Rea record: 21-1
- Arthur record: 24-3
- Belts at stake: European light heavyweight title
The chief support is a Manchester derby, pitting European champion and City fan Rea against former world title challenger and United fan Arthur.
Arthur has only ever lost in elite company, going down to Dmitri Bivol and dropping the second and third fights of a trilogy to Anthony Yarde. However, the lacklustre nature of the latter loss on the Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn undercard means this might be the 34-year-old’s final chance to get himself into the world title conversation.
Rea, 27, is on a seven-fight winning streak since jumping up a couple of divisions following his English middleweight title loss to Tyler Denny. He won the vacant European strap last time out with a unanimous decision over Shakan Pitters.
Liam Cameron vs. Troy Jones
- Division/Weight: Light heavyweight
- Cameron record: 23-7-1
- Jones record: 13-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Cameron, who dropped a split decision to Arthur last June, returns to action following his two-fight series with Ben Whittaker, which ended in a devastating stoppage loss.
The 35-year-old’s technical decision draw in the first of those bouts saw his stock rise considerably. A victory over Jones, whose only previous loss came against rising star Ezra Taylor, could set Cameron up for a solid late-career run.
Khaleel Majid vs. David Ryan
- Division/Weight: Super lightweight
- Majid record:15-0
- Ryan record: 6-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Majid stepped up to the 10-round distance last time out and claimed a career-best win over the then-undefeated Alex Murphy.
Back at Co-op Live, he takes on Ireland’s Ryan, who will try to bounce back from a first-round TKO loss to Colin Ciarney in June.
Billy Deniz vs. Ezra Arenyeka
- Division/Weight: Light heavyweight
- Deniz record: 13-0
- Arenyeka record: 14-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Deniz hasn’t exactly lived up to his moniker of the ‘Turkish Tyson’ with just five KOs in his 13 victories.
The 25-year-old Manchester native is sure to be vociferously backed against Nigeria’s Arenyeka, whose only career loss came against Ben Whittaker last year.
Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Location: Co-op Live, Manchester
- Time: 5 p.m.
- Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m.
- Live stream: DAZN
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