🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

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

Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with both competitors willing to be aggressive in a tentative early stages.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a solid defense to barely take the better rounds.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin amid frequent holding, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a profoundly moving tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in honor of local hero Hatton, who died aged 46 in September.

It was the first major televised fight night in the city since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the quiet transitioned to a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and wider gap, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.