🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

The scoring judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue grew hushed for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a left hook flush on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up early, heavy swelling developing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the result with official scores of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend represented.