🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the approaches didn't complement each other, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the European light heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his eye as the fighters landed hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero the legend represented.