🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the styles didn't complement each other, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his initial pro loss - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - maybe in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to edge the better periods.

The audience's tolerance diminished because of constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during clinches.

The underdog closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the continental championship.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional tribute before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting during the bout matched the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up early, significant bruising forming under his face as the fighters landed hard punches.

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

The victor narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, everything their idol the legend represented.