🔗 Share this article

British light-heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

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

The officials had it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95.

"It wasn't my finest display but what do champions do? They win," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was greeted with disapproval from the spectators.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer endured the second defeat of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Claims Win in Uneventful Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the rising talent of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - maybe in what appears to be a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a protective stance to edge the more effective stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during regular grabbing, with Parker going down various instances during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, giving Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester contest to secure the continental title.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in memory of the city's native Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The action during the bout equaled the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a significant blow flush on the jaw in the initial stage, rising shakily to his position on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. Across the ring, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair traded punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the pace seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

The victor edged the result with official scores of draw, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were determined and brave, all the qualities their inspiration Hatton stood for.