Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Beats Zach Parker in Manchester

British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

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

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They succeed," the victor stated in the ringside as he was met by boos from the spectators.

The British fighter got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Various analysts thought the challenger, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Secures Victory in Dull Encounter

The fighter's advancement has stalled in recent times through management issues and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter ready to be aggressive in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand in the contest, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, making life awkward for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner periods.

The crowd's patience wore thin because of constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving tribute before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the city since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition during the bout matched the feeling. Arthur was floored by a left hook directly to the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his position on the referee's count.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged early, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, 27, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.