Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Beats Parker in Manchester

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level likely gained him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing spoiling the action.

Two judges judged it 96-94 to the winner, with the remaining official a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced negative reactions from the spectators.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second loss of his 28-bout professional journey.

Buatsi Claims Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has slowed in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of British boxing, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers willing to overcommit in a tentative early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished amid frequent holding, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.

Parker ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

The victor advances, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol ruling the division, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still looks steep.

Ricky Hatton Tribute Motivates Local Rivalry Fight

In the secondary fight, Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific local rivalry fight to win the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a profoundly moving memorial before the fight as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in last month.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet gave way to a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes matched the feeling. The eventual winner was knocked down by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the eight count.

But the Manchester United-red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. Across the ring, the opponent - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the fighters exchanged hard punches.

Rea, 27, landed power punches but the champion, 34, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the pace hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

The victor narrowly won the verdict with official scores of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and brave, all the qualities their hero Hatton stood for.