🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling clean blows in a contest where the styles didn't complement each other, with excessive holding marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to secure the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and courageous, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.