Underwhelming Joshua Buatsi Outpoints Parker in Manchester Bout

UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet underwhelming start to life under new promoters with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output seemingly secured him a judges' verdict in a competitive 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful individual punches in a match where the techniques never quite clicked, with frequent clinching marring the action.

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

"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They succeed," Buatsi said in the ringside as he was greeted with disapproval from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Several boxing experts thought the challenger, thirty-one, merited the win but the contender endured the second loss of his 28-fight professional journey.

The Champion Claims Victory in Dull Affair

The fighter's advancement has slowed in recent times through contract problems and considerable time of lack of fights.

Once tipped as the future of UK boxing, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what feels like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a cagey initial rounds.

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

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who worked behind a protective stance to edge the more effective periods.

The spectators' acceptance wore thin because of constant clinching, with the challenger slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - providing analysis for Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the presence of heavy hitter Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol ruling the division, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest

In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur overcame Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific all-Manchester battle to win the continental title.

The arena became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony tolled in remembrance of local hero Hatton, who succumbed at age 46 in September.

It was the premier televised match card in the urban center since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the stillness transitioned to a roar of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring matched the emotion. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the face in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the count of eight.

But the traditional red attire of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, the opponent - in competitive blue - was damaged quickly, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the duo traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but the champion, thirty-four, responded in kind with powerful upward punches as the intensity hardly diminished over 12 rounds.

The victor barely secured the decision with official scores of draw, close margin and clearer margin, but both fighters were determined and brave, everything their hero the legend embodied.