🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Claims Win in Dull Match

His career development has slowed in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to take risks in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second appearance at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding local rivalry contest to secure the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a extremely emotional memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the silence gave way to a chant of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition within the ring matched the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook directly to the chin in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, Rea - in opposing blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters landed punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend embodied.