🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to his career under new promoters with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a split decision in a close 10-round fight at the Co-op Live Arena.

But the challenger found success, connecting with powerful individual punches in a contest where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my finest display but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the audience.

The British fighter got back to winning after his initial pro loss - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts believed Parker, 31, deserved the victory but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent times through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.

He opened tentatively, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against his former opponent in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had kept it close, making life awkward for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience wore thin during constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - commentating on Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, giving Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Battle

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester battle to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium grew hushed for a extremely emotional tribute ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in memory of the city's native Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the stillness gave way to a roar of "only one Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a significant blow directly to the face in the initial stage, standing uncertainly to his footing on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, fought fire with fire with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with official scores of 114-114, 115-113 and clearer margin, but each competitor were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.