Disappointing Buatsi Beats Zach Parker in Manchester Bout
UK light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi secured a victory yet disappointing debut to life under new promoters with a decision win over Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's work rate appeared to earn him a split decision in a competitive 10-round bout at the Co-op Live Arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a fight where the techniques failed to mesh, with frequent clinching disrupting the action.
Two judges scored it 96-94 to the winner, with the third a 95-95.
"It wasn't my finest showing but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor commented in the ringside as he was met by disapproval from the crowd.
The British fighter bounced back after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in last winter - to earn a 20th career victory.
Some ringside observers felt the challenger, thirty-one, deserved the decision but the British boxer experienced the second loss of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Triumph in Slow Affair
His career development has plateaued in recent times through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.
Once tipped as the next star of the British fight scene, he now is positioned trying to achieve expectations - perhaps in what feels like a last chance - under new promotional backing.
He started carefully, with both competitors ready to overcommit in a calculated initial rounds.
The challenger, whose single earlier setback came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was competing in only his second bout at light heavyweight.
By the halfway stage, the underdog had kept it close, causing problems for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to narrowly win the cleaner rounds.
The crowd's patience diminished because of regular grabbing, with Parker falling to the floor various instances during close exchanges.
The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, ex-champion the boxing analyst - commentating on the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, giving Buatsi just one round.
The victor advances, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the road to world glory - judging by this showing - still appears challenging.
Hatton Homage Motivates Manchester Derby Contest
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Bradley Rea by split-decision in a outstanding all-Manchester fight to secure the continental title.
The venue became quiet for a profoundly moving memorial ahead of the contest as a bell ceremony sounded in remembrance of Manchester's own Hatton, who died at age 46 in recently.
It was the initial significant broadcast match card in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound ended, the quiet became a roar of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".
The competition within the ring reflected the feeling. Arthur was sent to the canvas by a left hook squarely on the face in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his footing on the eight count.
But the traditional red equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was damaged quickly, heavy swelling forming under his orbital area as the pair traded hard punches.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but the champion, 34, responded in kind with effective uppercuts as the action rarely dropped over twelve rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with judges scorecards of draw, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were relentless and full of heart, exactly what their idol Hatton stood for.
