Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Beats Parker in Manchester

British light heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a tight 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but what defines champions? They succeed," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-match professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in the past few years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the better periods.

The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker finished the stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Tribute Motivates Manchester Derby Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony rang in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound ended, the silence became a roar of "there's just one Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the feeling. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a significant blow squarely on the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and 115-112, but each competitor were determined and courageous, exactly what their hero the legend stood for.