🔗 Share this article

British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output likely gained him a majority decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the boxing arena.

But Parker had his moments, landing some telling single shots in a fight where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the action.

The scoring judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the final judge a even score.

"It wasn't my finest performance but how do champions respond? They succeed," the victor said in the arena as he was met by boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an thrilling contest with Callum Smith in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts believed the challenger, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender suffered the second loss of his 28-fight career.

The Champion Secures Triumph in Uneventful Match

His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and extended periods of lack of fights.

Previously predicted as the future of UK boxing, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - maybe in what appears to be a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

The challenger, whose sole prior loss came at super middleweight against John Ryder in 2022 after suffering a hand injury mid-fight, was participating in his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a protective stance to barely take the better stanzas.

The spectators' acceptance decreased during frequent holding, with Parker going down multiple occasions during close exchanges.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Although, previous titleholder the boxing analyst - providing analysis for Dazn - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher Benavidez, and Eastern European fighter Dmitry Bivol dominating the weight class, the journey to titles - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Motivates All-Manchester Contest

In the supporting bout, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by divided decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester contest to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena fell silent for a profoundly moving homage prior to the bout as 10 bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a roar of "only one Hatton".

The action inside the ropes equaled the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the chin in the second round, standing uncertainly to his position on the referee's count.

But the red-colored equipment of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up quickly, noticeable damage developing under his face as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, 27, connected with strong blows but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with powerful upward punches as the intensity seldom decreased over 12 rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the result with judges scorecards of 114-114, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and courageous, everything their inspiration Hatton embodied.