🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was greeted with boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased because of frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Homage Inspires Local Rivalry Fight

In the supporting bout, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a shout of "only one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over the full distance.

The victor edged the result with scoring tallies of 114-114, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, everything their hero the legend stood for.