Disappointing Joshua Buatsi Beats Parker in Manchester Fight

UK light heavyweight Buatsi made a winning yet unimpressive beginning to life under new promoters with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic medal winner's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a close 10-round contest at the boxing arena.

But Parker landed significant shots, delivering effective clean blows in a fight where the approaches never quite clicked, with frequent clinching spoiling the contest.

Two judges scored it 96-94 in favor to the winner, with the third a even score.

"It wasn't my best performance but what do champions do? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was greeted with negative reactions from the spectators.

The British fighter bounced back after his initial pro loss - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts believed Parker, 31, should have been awarded the win but the British boxer endured the second setback of his 28-bout professional journey.

The Champion Claims Win in Dull Match

His career development has stalled in recent times through contract problems and long spells of lack of fights.

Earlier forecast as the future of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to realize his potential - perhaps in what feels like a final roll of the dice - under recent support.

He began cautiously, with the two boxers ready to take risks in a calculated early stages.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against his former opponent in 2022 after suffering a hand injury during the bout, was making just his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who operated with a solid defense to barely take the better periods.

The crowd's patience decreased amid constant clinching, with Parker slipping to the canvas multiple occasions during clinches.

Parker closed well, but several stanzas were challenging to assess. Nevertheless, former world champion Carl Frampton - working with Dazn - had it particularly wide for the challenger, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi progresses, but with the presence of heavy hitter David Benavidez, and Russian champion Dmitry Bivol leading the category, the journey to titles - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Hatton Tribute Inspires All-Manchester Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Bradley Rea by split-decision in a terrific Manchester vs Manchester fight to secure the European light-heavyweight belt.

The stadium fell silent for a deeply poignant tribute prior to the bout as a bell ceremony tolled in honor of local hero Ricky Hatton, who succumbed aged 46 in recently.

It was the premier televised fight night in the location since the passing of Hatton. As the final chime ended, the quiet transitioned to a shout of "only one Ricky Hatton".

The competition within the ring equaled the sentiment. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch flush on the jaw in the second round, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red equipment of the fighter soon came forward again. From the other corner, Rea - in competitive blue - was marked up early, significant bruising developing under his orbital area as the pair traded powerful shots.

Rea, twenty-seven, connected with strong blows but Arthur, 34, responded in kind with stinging uppercuts as the pace rarely dropped over twelve rounds.

Arthur narrowly won the decision with scoring tallies of even score, 115-113 and wider gap, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, all the qualities their hero Hatton embodied.