🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive ten-round fight at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ring as he was faced negative reactions from the audience.

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

Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Once tipped as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to be aggressive in a calculated initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with Parker going down several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who passed away aged 46 in recently.

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

The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was floored by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising forming under his face as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

The victor edged the result with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, everything their inspiration Hatton represented.