🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing beginning to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter willing to be aggressive in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, significant bruising appearing under his face as the duo landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.