🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate likely gained him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the styles never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi stated in the ring as he was faced boos from the audience.

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

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

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

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after breaking his hand in the contest, was competing in only his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a tight guard to barely take the more effective stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased amid constant clinching, with the challenger falling to the floor multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. However, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.

Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as ten bells tolled in remembrance of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow squarely on the jaw in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but both fighters were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend embodied.