🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective individual punches in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

Two judges judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to edge the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down several times during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

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

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away at age 46 in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a powerful punch directly to the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the eight count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but the two athletes were determined and brave, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.