🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker found success, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the fight.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

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

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter ready to overcommit in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was participating in his second bout at light-heavyweight.

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

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but several stanzas were difficult to score. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Hatton Tribute Fuels Local Rivalry Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to win the continental belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in last month.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the silence gave way to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their inspiration the legend represented.