🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the techniques didn't complement each other, with excessive holding spoiling the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent years through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Fuels All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by close verdict in a excellent local rivalry battle to capture the continental championship.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells rang in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Hatton".

The fighting during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising appearing under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over twelve rounds.

Arthur edged the result with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.