🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a tight ten-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger found success, landing some telling clean blows in a match where the styles didn't complement each other, with frequent clinching marring the fight.

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

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was faced disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers thought the challenger, 31, merited the victory but the Derbyshire fighter suffered the second defeat of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Secures Win in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the next star of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He started carefully, with the two boxers willing to be aggressive in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose single earlier setback came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who worked behind a tight guard to barely take the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor multiple occasions during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were hard to judge. However, ex-champion Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light-heavyweight belt.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was injured quickly, noticeable damage developing under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor narrowly won the result with scoring tallies of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their hero Hatton represented.