🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the action.

The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was met by negative reactions from the spectators.

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

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Match

His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of regular grabbing, with the challenger falling to the floor several times during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the stillness gave way to a chant of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in opposing blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his face as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend stood for.