🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger found success, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

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

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Manchester Derby Fight

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up early, noticeable damage developing under his face as the fighters traded powerful shots.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, all the qualities their idol Hatton represented.