🔗 Share this article

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

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second defeat of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during regular grabbing, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as ten bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but the two athletes were determined and courageous, everything their hero the legend stood for.