🔗 Share this article

UK light-heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive debut to life under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, delivering effective single shots in a match where the styles never quite clicked, with constant grabbing disrupting the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the third a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They win," the victor commented in the ring as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, merited the decision but the contender experienced the second setback of his 28-match career.

Buatsi Earns Victory in Slow Match

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through promotional disputes and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what appears to be a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at the higher weight class.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, making life awkward for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance diminished during regular grabbing, with the challenger slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.

Parker ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi advances, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Inspires Manchester Derby Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a excellent local rivalry fight to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as a bell ceremony rang in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the last bell disappeared, the stillness became a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".

The fighting inside the ropes equaled the sentiment. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook flush on the jaw in the early round, rising shakily to his feet on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in opposing blue - was injured early, noticeable damage forming under his eye as the fighters traded hard punches.

Rea, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration the legend stood for.