Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Outpoints Parker in Manchester

UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a close ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding disrupting the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor said in the ring as he was faced boos from the spectators.

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

Several boxing experts thought Parker, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer suffered the second setback of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to be aggressive in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but multiple periods were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.

The victor progresses, but with the presence of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Hatton Homage Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a outstanding local rivalry fight to win the European light heavyweight title.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as ten bells sounded in honor of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the city since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, heavy swelling developing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.