Lackluster Buatsi Beats Parker in Manchester

UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to his career under fresh promotional backing with a unanimous decision over Parker in the Manchester arena.

The Olympic bronze medallist's work rate appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the Co-op Live Arena.

But Parker found success, delivering effective single shots in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with excessive holding disrupting the action.

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

"It wasn't my best performance but how do champions respond? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a twentieth professional win.

Various analysts felt Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the victory but the Derbyshire fighter endured the second setback of his 28-fight career.

Buatsi Secures Triumph in Uneventful Affair

His career development has stalled in recent years through contract problems and extended periods of inactivity.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now is positioned trying to realize his potential - possibly in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under new promotional backing.

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

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who utilized a tight guard to edge the cleaner periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin during constant clinching, with the challenger going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. However, former world champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - based on this performance - still seems difficult.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester battle to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The venue became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in September.

It was the initial significant broadcast fight night in the location since Hatton's death. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "there's just one Hatton".

The competition inside the ropes reflected the feeling. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch flush on the face in the second round, rising shakily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the red-colored shorts of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was damaged soon, heavy swelling developing under his face as the fighters exchanged powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, thirty-four, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

The victor edged the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and brave, exactly what their inspiration Hatton embodied.