🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a tight ten-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest display but what do champions do? They succeed," the victor stated in the ring as he was greeted with negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts thought the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second setback of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has slowed in recent years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers prepared to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

The victor moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Contest

In the co-main event, Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific local rivalry battle to capture the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving homage ahead of the contest as 10 bells rang in memory of local hero Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in September.

It was the first major televised match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action during the bout matched the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. From the other corner, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair landed powerful shots.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.