Lackluster Joshua Buatsi Beats Zach Parker in Manchester Bout

UK light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under recent management with a points victory over Zach Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's work rate seemingly secured him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But the challenger landed significant shots, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.

The officials scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the remaining official a even score.

"It wasn't my greatest performance but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi stated in the arena as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner got back to winning after his maiden career setback - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to secure a 20th career victory.

Some ringside observers believed Parker, 31, deserved the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-bout career.

The Champion Earns Triumph in Uneventful Affair

Buatsi's progress has plateaued in the past few years through management issues and long spells of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under fresh management.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers prepared to be aggressive in a cagey early stages.

The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super-middleweight against his former opponent in two years ago after damaging his hand in the contest, was making just his second fight at light heavyweight.

By the middle rounds, Parker had stayed in contention, creating difficulties for the favorite, who operated with a protective stance to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.

The crowd's patience wore thin amid constant clinching, with the challenger going down various instances during close exchanges.

Parker finished the stronger, but multiple periods were difficult to score. Nevertheless, previous titleholder Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it strongly leaning for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol ruling the division, the road to world glory - based on this performance - still appears challenging.

Hatton Memorial Motivates Local Rivalry Battle

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by divided decision in a outstanding local rivalry battle to win the European light-heavyweight championship.

The arena became quiet for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as ten bells rang in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who passed away 46 years old in recently.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's passing. As the last bell faded, the quiet became a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The action inside the ropes reflected the sentiment. Arthur was floored by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.

But the red-colored attire of Arthur soon came forward again. From the other corner, the opponent - in opposing blue - was damaged soon, noticeable damage developing under his orbital area as the pair exchanged punishing blows.

Rea, twenty-seven, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over twelve rounds.

Arthur barely secured the verdict with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but each competitor were persistent and full of heart, all the qualities their idol the legend stood for.