🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet underwhelming beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the approaches didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The officials judged it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the victory but the British boxer suffered the second defeat of his 28-match professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Slow Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid frequent holding, with the challenger falling to the floor various instances during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor advances, but with the presence of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Battle

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

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the quiet gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his position on the count of eight.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured soon, heavy swelling developing under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.