🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to his career under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with excessive holding marring the contest.

Two judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Match

His career development has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

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

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second appearance at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased because of frequent holding, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to secure the European light heavyweight belt.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as 10 bells sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

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

The fighting within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the early round, rising shakily to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was injured soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the fighters traded hard punches.

The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with judges scorecards of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, everything their idol the legend represented.