Underwhelming Buatsi Outpoints Zach Parker in Manchester

UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a split decision in a tight ten-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a match where the techniques failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the contest.

The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest showing but what do champions do? They win," the victor commented in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the crowd.

The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with Callum Smith in last winter - to secure a twentieth professional win.

Some ringside observers thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the decision but the British boxer experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Earns Victory in Dull Affair

Buatsi's progress has stalled in recent years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the future of British boxing, he now is positioned trying to fulfil that early promise - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with neither fighter prepared to take risks in a calculated early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was participating in his second bout at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had made it competitive, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were hard to judge. However, former world champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, awarding Buatsi just one round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of hard hitter David Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Fuels All-Manchester Fight

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by close verdict in a terrific all-Manchester contest to secure the European light-heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a deeply poignant memorial ahead of the contest as ten bells rang in memory of Manchester's own Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised match card in the urban center since Hatton's passing. As the final chime disappeared, the stillness transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was knocked down by a left hook directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the eight count.

But the traditional red shorts of the fighter soon came forward again. On the opposite side, Rea - in rival City blue - was injured early, heavy swelling appearing under his orbital area as the duo exchanged punishing blows.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, thirty-four, matched the intensity with stinging uppercuts as the pace seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and clearer margin, but each competitor were determined and brave, exactly what their idol Hatton embodied.