Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Outpoints Parker in Manchester

UK light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming beginning to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close ten-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a match where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They prevail," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience decreased amid frequent holding, with the challenger going down various instances during clinches.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "only one Hatton".

The action within the ring reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the chin in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of 114-114, close margin and 115-112, but each competitor were relentless and brave, everything their idol Hatton embodied.