🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

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

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the arena as he was greeted with boos from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Win in Slow Encounter

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to edge the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, noticeable damage appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the decision with scoring tallies of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their hero the legend stood for.