🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet unimpressive start to life under fresh promotional backing with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful single shots in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

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

"It wasn't my best display but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi commented in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Affair

His career development has stalled in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to win the European light-heavyweight title.

The arena fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the quiet became a chant of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his position on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the duo traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over the full distance.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.