🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under recent management with a points victory over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a tight 10-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But the challenger had his moments, delivering effective clean blows in a contest where the techniques didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching disrupting the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 for to the winner, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

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

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the contender experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Victory in Slow Encounter

His career development has slowed in recent times through management issues and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with neither fighter prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was participating in his second appearance at the higher weight class.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

Parker closed well, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, ex-champion the boxing analyst - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of hard hitter 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 secondary fight, Arthur overcame Rea by close verdict in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the continental championship.

The venue grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the final chime faded, the stillness transitioned to a chant of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his face as the pair exchanged hard punches.

Rea, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but the two athletes were persistent and brave, everything their hero the legend stood for.