🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing start to his career under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output seemingly secured him a split decision in a close ten-round fight at the Manchester venue.

But Parker landed significant shots, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

The officials had it 96-94 to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by negative reactions from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Several boxing experts thought Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Encounter

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative opening few rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had stayed in contention, making life awkward for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the cleaner stanzas.

The audience's tolerance decreased during constant clinching, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but many rounds were difficult to score. However, ex-champion the boxing analyst - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage prior to the bout as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Ricky Hatton, who died 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell ended, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a significant blow flush on the chin in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling appearing under his eye as the pair landed hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and brave, everything their inspiration Hatton stood for.