Lackluster Buatsi Beats Zach Parker in Manchester Fight

British light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive beginning to his career under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close ten-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the techniques never quite clicked, with excessive holding marring the fight.

Two judges judged it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a 95-95.

"It wasn't my greatest display but how do champions respond? They prevail," Buatsi commented in the arena as he was faced boos from the audience.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to claim a 20th pro success.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Claims Triumph in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has slowed in the past few years through promotional disputes and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the next star of UK boxing, he now stands trying to realize his potential - maybe in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under new promotional backing.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to take risks in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in 2022 after damaging his hand mid-fight, was competing in only his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the halfway stage, Parker had made it competitive, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to barely take the more effective rounds.

The spectators' acceptance decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas several times during close exchanges.

The underdog finished the stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Homage Inspires All-Manchester Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent all-Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight belt.

The arena grew hushed for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as ten bells sounded in remembrance of the city's native Hatton, who died at age 46 in September.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime faded, the stillness became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch squarely on the face in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged early, noticeable damage forming under his orbital area as the fighters landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the intensity hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of draw, narrow lead and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and courageous, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.